Liberia an Example of Hope: Kofi Annan Reclaiming National Forests Rebuilding Infrastructure Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General

Vol. 3, No.UNMIL 01 FOCUS September - November 2006

Liberia an Example of Hope: Kofi Annan Reclaiming National Forests Rebuilding Infrastructure Message From the Special Representative of the Secretary-General

ince I last ing financing proposals to donor partners, in wrote in order to meet these requirements. I hope donors UNMIL will respond favourably. FOCUS, Laying emphasis on locally-driven develop- the gov- ment to spur economic growth, UNMIL, togeth- ernmentS and peo- er with the UN funds and agencies, has initiated ple of Liberia have the creation of a UN County Support Team continued to make (CST) in each of Liberia’s 15 counties. These substantial strides teams have now begun assisting local authorities in reconstructing in the counties to design, coordinate and imple- the nation that ment community development projects. This ini- until recently was tiative is the UN family’s response to the govern- a victim of a long ment’s policy of decentralization and aligns UN and painful con- assistance with the country’s own development flict. agenda. In late The UN family in Liberia continues to work September, I had the opportunity to brief the actively in infrastructural development, educa- Security Council in New York on Secretary- tion, health sector and refugee returns to support General Kofi Annan’s latest report on Liberia. the Government’s own reconstruction efforts. The report detailed the progress the country has In October, I attended the meeting of the made so far in collaboration with the United Heads of the United Nations Peace Missions in Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). While not- West Africa that was held in Dakar. The meeting ing that Liberia is an example of hope as it strives acknowledged the Security Council’s continued steadfastly to achieve sustainable peace, the support for the consolidation of peace in Liberia Secretary-General also stressed the need for sig- and drew attention to the need for job creation, nificant support from the international communi- national reconciliation and the realistic manage- ty as the nation faces immense challenges in ment of expectations among the Liberian popula- reconstructing its vandalised economy and in tion and the international community. A major mending its torn social fabric. issue deliberated at this meeting was the fragile Security still remains one of the major con- peace process in Côte d’Ivoire, a subject closely cerns, as pointed out in the progress report, and linked to Liberia’s own prospects for lasting UNMIL is encouraging the Government of peace. Liberia to draw up a comprehensive security pol- A lot more work remains to be done before icy and strategy. Simultaneously, the restructur- Liberia can fully emerge from the shadow of ing of the Liberia National Police is ongoing, conflict. In view of the massive challenges facing with the recruitment and training of a new force. the country, the international community will The training of the recruits for the new Armed need to remain closely engaged in Liberia while Forces of Liberia began in July and already over the process of reform and renewal moves ahead. one hundred of the first group of trainees, includ- This will be the focus of the Partners Forum, ing ten women, have graduated. The new AFL is which will bring Liberia and its partners togeth- expected to be partially operational by late 2008. er in Washington, D.C., next February. As the economy picks-up, prevention of crime -- essentially a policing task -- must continue to be a high priority for UNMIL. For this, the Liberia National Police requires urgent, addition- al donor support, especially for communications Alan Doss equipment and transportation, well beyond what Special Representative of the has already been delivered or pledged by donors. Secretary-General and Coordinator of UNMIL has assisted the Government in prepar- United Nations Operations in Liberia

2 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 6 16 12 With the passage of the The 2006 Liberia National 4 National Forestry Reform Many organizations, includ- Human Development Law and the lifting of timber ing UNMIL, are joining Report indicts the pro- In his latest report on sanctions by the UN forces to rebuild Liberia’s longed conflict for inflicting Liberia, Kofi Annan takes Security Council, Liberia is shattered infrastructure as major setbacks on the stock of the progress made now poised to benefit from the World Bank takes the economy and indentifies in the country and the chal- better forestry manage- lead in funding major road priority areas for develop- lenges ahead. ment. works. ment.

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IN THIS ISSUE 14 Liberia an Example of Hope: Kofi Annan Special Representative of the Secretary-GGeneral and Coordinator 16 Reclaiming National Forests of United Nations Operations in Liberia 18 WB Grant for Forestry Development Alan Doss 19 Diamond Ban Stays Deputy Special Representative of the 10 Got Guthrie Back Secretary-GGeneral for Recovery and 12 Rebuilding Infrastructure Governance Jordan Ryan 14 County Teams Support Local Authorities 16 The Cost of Conflict Officer-iin-CCharge of Public Information 18 Ex-fighters Need More Jobs Ben Dotsei Malor

19 Threat of Food Insecurity Editor and Head of Publications 20 Interview: Alan Doss Mathew Elavanalthoduka

22 Hope for Liberian Green Revolution Staff Writers 24 Restoring Confidence in Judiciary Yuko Maeda Sulaiman Momodu 26 Networking Women in Governance J. Wesley Washington 27 IDP Chapter Ends Design and Graphics 28 Women Join Security Services Paddy Defoxy Ilos, II

29 First AFL Recruits Graduate Photos 30 Novel Approach to Arms Collection Eric Kanalstein

31 Patrolling the Borders Published by the Public Information 32 Quick Impact Projects Office, United Nations Mission in Liberia 33 Fighting Lassa Fever 34 From China, With Love [email protected]

35 Chinese Keep Roads Open Printed by Buck Press Ltd., Accra, Ghana 38 Liberians Speak

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 3 noted the steps taken to fight corruption and improve economic governance. Annan recalled his visit to Liberia in July to witness the progress being made in rebuilding the country and his meetings with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her Cabinet as well as senior public and UN officials. “I was impressed by the commitment and dedication to peace and democratic governance demonstrated by the leaders and people of Liberia,” he said. The Secretary-General highlighted security as one of the major challenges in Liberia’s reconstruction effort. “The country is heavily dependent on UNMIL for the provision of security, given that the new police service is still in its formative stages and the training of the new armed forces is only just beginning,” he pointed out. He urged the Liberian Government and the United Nations to “remain vigilant” to

As the 2006 United Nations Consolidated Appeal for Liberia an Liberia has only received 34 per cent of the estimated requirements for the year, he appealed to donors to Example generously provide the assistance required to meet these needs.

of Hope: carefully manage internal threats to stability. Although the reform and restructuring of the Liberian National Police continues to make good progress, Annan said the Kofi Annan Government urgently needs funds to complete the basic training programme for By Mathew Elavanalthoduka mous challenges in several areas,” he cau- new recruits as well as for specialized tioned, urging donor countries to come police training, vehicles, communications iberia, which was once at the forward to assist the country recover equipment and accommodation centre of conflict in West quickly from long years of civil war. allowances. He lamented the low presence Africa, now serves as “an “Liberia has continued to make tangi- of the national police in the interior of the example of hope” and of what ble progress in a number of areas. The country which remains “far below accept- can be achieved when leaders three branches of Government are func- able levels.” Land citizens work together, Secretary- tioning; the reform of the security sector is However, despite such problems, General Kofi Annan said in his recent gradually progressing; the resettlement of Annan described the security situation in progress report to the Security Council on internally displaced persons has been com- Liberia as having remained “generally sta- the war-torn nation’s efforts to consolidate pleted; an increasing number of Liberian ble” since his last report to the Security peace and rehabilitate its shattered econo- refugees have returned home,” Annan said Council in June and noted the steady my. “Nevertheless, Liberia still faces enor- in his mid-September report. He also progress being made in the restoration and

4 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 consolidation of State authority through- reform will be seriously undermined if we out the nation. cannot help Liberia create jobs for the Annan cited in his report several multitude of young people, ex-combatants humanitarian challenges that require and former employees who have few or “urgent attention” in the country. They no economic opportunities,” he stressed. include provision of health care, water and Doss urged donors and partners to sanitation, education, shelter, food and contribute as a matter of priority to the livelihood opportunities. As the 2006 initiative launched by the Liberian United Nations Consolidated Appeal for Government in July for employment gen- Liberia has only received 34 per cent of eration through labour intensive public the estimated requirements for the year, he works. The World Bank, USAID, ILO, appealed to donors to generously provide UNDP and the UN Mission in Liberia the assistance required to meet these have already committed support to this needs. initiative. The Secretary-General also said that Although the Government has taken Liberia's efforts to cultivate good relations some steps towards enhancing the rule of with its neighbours were progressing well, law, a great deal remains to be done to and highlighted the important regional ensure the effective administration of jus- message sent by the transfer on 20 June of tice, respect for human rights and the end- former Liberian President Charles Taylor ing of impunity, the Special from Sierra Leone to The Hague to face Representative reminded the 15-member charges of war crimes. “Not only did it body. The main obstacles are the lack of signal that the world will not accept judicial infrastructure, a dearth of quali- impunity, it also demonstrated the recogni- fied judicial and legal officers and finan- tion by the Government of Liberia, region- cial constraints, he pointed out. al leaders and the Security Council that Doss attributed the progress in Mr. Taylor’s continued presence in advancing the peace process in Liberia to Freetown was a threat to peace and stabil- efforts by President Johnson-Sirleaf, and ity in the sub-region,” he said. Alan Doss the continued support of the Security Briefing the Security Council on the Council and other member countries of Secretary-General’s report, Special conflict recovery in Liberia, few are as the United Nations. However, in view of Representative Alan Doss reiterated the pressing as the problem of unemployment, the massive challenges facing the country, need for “constant vigilance and robust the international community will need to management” to maintain political stabili- remain closely engaged in Liberia while ty in Liberia. Demonstrations and threats Although the Government the process of reform and renewal moves of violence by former security personnel, has taken some steps ahead, he added. disruptions by ex-combatants waiting or towards enhancing the rule If the security situation permits, the contesting reintegration benefits and United Nations Mission in Liberia may restive youth searching for employment of law, a great deal remains begin its drawdown phase in early 2008, are “sources of potential instability” in the to be done to ensure the the UN envoy said. During this phase, the country, he said. effective administration of Mission will seek to progressively trans- “We must be prepared too for disrup- fer security responsibilities to national tions that may come from other groups and justice, respect for human and local authorities based on criteria and individuals whose political and economic rights and the ending of timeframe to be discussed with the interests have been adversely affected by impunity. The main obsta- Government. The Council will be provid- the new democratic dispensation and the ed with the plan for the drawdown in Administration’s reform initiatives,” Doss cles are the lack of judicial September 2007. warned. He also highlighted the concern infrastructure, a dearth of Special Representative Doss also that any deterioration in the security situa- qualified judicial and legal thanked the troop and civilian police con- tion in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire could tributing countries, past and present spill over into Liberia. To address this, the officers and financial con- UNMIL personnel, the UN Country Team, United Nations Mission in Liberia has straints. humanitarian and aid organizations as beefed up security in border areas and is well as ECOWAS, the African Union and conducting concurrent patrolling with the the donor community, all of whom con- UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire. Doss informed the Security Council. “Our tinue to support the cause of peace in Among the many challenges of post- efforts to bolster stability and accelerate Liberia and West Africa.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 5 NATURAL RESOURCES

Liberia’s rich forests, a source of “blood timber” in the past, are set to benefit the economy Reclaiming National Forests By Yuko Maeda ging, community forestry and conserva- the future generations; we can ensure tion activities. For Liberia which has taken resource allocation and equity in distribu- dramatic passage of the several steps to clean up the chaotic tion of benefits; we can make sure to add new National Forestry forestry sector in recent months, the pas- value to our primary commodity, so that Reform Law at the sage of the law cleared the final obstacle to we can move on steps along the develop- Legislature in mid- secure the full lifting of the timber embar- ment ladder.” September paved the way go -- the only condition the Security Liberia lies entirely in the Upper forA lifting by the Security Council a long- Council imposed in June to make a tempo- Guinean Rainforest ecosystem. Covering standing UN sanction on timber trade in rary lifting permanent. nearly half of the national land, Liberia’s Liberia for good, opening up a life-time Calling the passage of the law “a forests are home to about 240 timber opportunity for the nation to regain control benchmark” in the reform of the forestry species, 2,000 flowering plants, 125 mam- over its abundant natural resources to help sector, Johnson-Sirleaf envisioned the law mal species, 590 bird species and a few of develop the country’s ruined economy would bring back credibility to forestry the remaining populations of endangered while protecting its rich biodiversity. management in Liberia and could allow forest elephant in West Africa. Led by tim- The law, subsequently signed by people in the forestry community to take ber trade that once amounted to more than President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on 4 advantage of their natural resources. “We 50 per cent of the country’s exports worth October, is to create a sustainable forestry now have the responsibility to implement an estimated US$80 million, forest sector for the benefit of the people by this law,” vowed the President before sign- resources had contributed more than 20 holistically regulating commercial log- ing the law. “We can protect our forests for per cent of the national Gross Domestic

6 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Product at peak time. Security Council President of the month counties of concession areas. In addition, However, forest resources have never Kenzo Oshima said in New York. “This the law protects the right of local commu- been properly managed or protected. important forestry legislation will ensure nities to ownership and usage of commu- During the 14-year brutal civil war, timber that revenues from the timber industry will nal forest resources. became a lucrative resource for Liberia’s not again fuel conflict.” Conservation and protection of armed factions, who traded timber prod- The historic law stipulates the Forestry forestry environment are another major ucts for arms. Logging concessions were Development Authority (FDA) take full- component of the law. All of the logging given out to private companies two and a control over forest resources in commer- companies are now for the first time in half times as much as the actual size of cial logging, community forestry and con- Liberia’s history required to go through an forest land available, and only a little por- servation. It sets out the mechanism to environmental impact assessment and pro- tion of tax revenue from trade went to the award concession rights, the imposition of duce an environmental management strat- national coffers. To end the “blood timber” systematic taxation and various fees, the egy plan to ensure an ecologically sound trade, the UN Security Council imposed a protection of forestry-dependent commu- usage of forest resources before starting ban on timber exports in May 2003, nities and the establishment of protected their operations. The law also demands months before Charles Taylor went into forest areas. protected forest areas such as National exile and the warring factions signed the “Liberianization” is a key concept of Parks, National Forests and Game Comprehensive Peace Accord in Accra. the forestry management under the new Reserves be established for wildlife pro- Although export of timber came to a halt law to define a fine line between the protection, eco-tourism and research activities and some reform efforts were made by a tection of Liberian businesses and the pro- under a Protected Forest Areas Network. donors-led Liberia Forest Initiative, the motion of foreign investments. It regulates “This law represents a major accom- Security Council repeatedly renewed the that commercial logging agreements over plishment to put Liberia on the right track sanction for lack of measures by the tran- a land area less than 50,000 hectares can for sustainable development, economic sitional government to ensure the forest be given exclusively to Liberian-owned growth and employment creation,” com- resources are used for development. companies while a land area between mended Oliver Pierce of the US It was only after Johnson-Sirleaf took 50,000 and 100,000 hectares to companies Department of Agriculture Forestry office early this year that reform in the owned at least 51 per cent by Liberian cit- Service, which provided technical assis- potentially viable forestry sector took off. izens. tance for forestry reform. In the recent She issued her first executive order to nul- The law also demands a community- past, the forestry sector employed more lify all the 70 logging concessions, all of friendly forestry industry. The commercial than 7,000 workers. which were previously found guilty of loggers are obligated to establish a social The passage of the law was a culmina- fueling the war or not complying with the agreement with local communities living tion of a joint effort between the govern- laws, and constituted a joint committee of on the fringe of concessions on the bene- ment and the international community, the government and its international part- fits and access rights they could enjoy. including the UN Mission in Liberia. ners, the Forestry Reform Monitoring And from the land rental fees the logging Together with experts from the World Committee (FRMC), to develop a compre- companies pay to the government, 30 per Bank, the USDA Forestry Service and the hensive forestry reform package that cent would go to communities entitled to UN agency Food and Agriculture included drafting the law and monitoring benefit and another 30 per cent to the Organisation, UNMIL’s environmental the forestry. “It’s wonderful to see this new law, President Johnson-Sirleaf signs the new Forestry Reform Law which does promote the sustainable use of forest resources, has been signed by the President,” said Jordan Ryan, Deputy Special Representative of Secretary- General who co-chaired the forestry reform committee. “We hope…Liberia will get back to work to develop forestry in a sustainable way, which truly benefits all of the people of Liberia.” With the passage of the much-awaited legislation, the Security Council on 20 October decided not to reinstate the sanction on timber trade. “Members of the Security Council commended the Liberian legislature for passing legislation that will ensure a transparent, accountable and government-controlled forestry sector,”

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 7 advisors and civil affairs officers have Protection Agency is one of the urgent provided invaluable inputs to the challenges to be overcome for the full forestry reform. implementation of the law. And forestry “Forestry reform deals with three regulations covering such fields as for- pillars: commercial forestry, community est land-use planning, chain of custody forestry and conservation forestry… We management and environmental impact have addressed all issues of forestry, assessment need to be developed. from the issue of Liberianization to the “Forest is still intact,” Bwanali says. “It issue of community rights,” recalled has to be governed well for a great Joseph Sesay, an agro-economist and future. Enforcement institutions should Civil Affairs Officer who has been be strengthened and the government engaged in forestry reform from the ini- must ensure the implementation of the tial stages and drew up a roadmap for law and regulations.” the lifting of timber sanctions two years UNMIL, together with other inter- ago. He says as Liberia produces a high national partners, stands by the govern- quality of timber, the logging industry ment in implementing the law to make would bounce back in a few years if the the forestry sector vibrant. “The inter- law were implemented properly. “It has national partners are delighted to sup- potential to boost local economy by port the efforts of Liberians in having generating large revenue from commer- the control of the natural resources,” cial forestry and creating lots of said Ryan. “We need to make sure the employment opportunities. Timber law is implemented fully and fairly. We exports could generate US$140 million hope the UN Country Team and UN by 2010,” he projects. Liberia’s forests County Support Teams in the fields will Yet challenges in forestry reform are home to a be able to work with logging compa- still remain. Webby Bwanali, a Senior variety of animal nies, FDA and people who would bene- Environmental Advisor, says capacity- and plant fit from this law.” building of FDA and the Environmental species Pierluigi Bombi/Universita degli Studi - Roma Tre - Roma degli Studi Pierluigi Bombi/Universita

WB Grant for Forestry Development

By Yuko Maeda Initiative, a coalition of donors, the gov- action of the World Bank, very timely.” ernment and NGOs for a long-term Although the passage of the law n an effort to strengthen Liberia's forestry development. was a milestone to help create a sustain- forestry management, the World The grant came at an opportune time able forestry sector and lift the UN sanc- IBank has given a US$2 million grant as the new Forestry Reform Law became tion on timber exports, its implementation to Liberia to develop a soundly-gov- effective on 4 October. Regulating com- remains a considerable challenge as erned, community-oriented forestry sec- mercial logging, community forestry and forestry-related regulations and other fun- tor. conservation activities, the law is expected damental management mechanisms are The Bank’s Development Forestry to allow the country to exploit its abundant not in place and the capacity of the regula- Sector Management Project is to increase natural resources for the benefit of the tory body is weak. The Bank’s grant is institutional capacity of Liberia’s forestry community and the country's eco- expected to address this area. Forestry Development Authority and nomic growth, and protect the biodiversity According to the project document, the other public entities, support community of forests. grant will be used for restructuring of the forest activities, develop agro-forestry “The initial grant of US$2 million will FDA, training of log-tracking and chain of management, assist small-scale private go to help vitalize the capacity of FDA to custody and developing new forestry reg- logging businesses and raise public be able to implement the law,” said Jordan ulations. It will also provide training for awareness on the forestry reform. The Ryan, Deputy Special Representative of developing sustainable forest management three-year project will be implemented UN Secretary-General and UNDP Country plans for communities and help establish by the UN Development Programme in Coordinator who leads the UN efforts in two pilot community forestry concessions. conjunction with the Liberia Forest Liberia’s forestry reform. “It’s a great Technical assistance to develop market-

8 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Diamond Ban Stays By Yuko Maeda gems come from legitimate sources, not as in neighbouring countries. During the from conflict-ridden regimes. It is a joint war, Liberia exported an estimated lthough the UN Security Council initiative of governments, international US$300 million worth of diamonds annu- acknowledged some progress in diamond industry and civil society to curb ally. ALiberia’s reform on the diamond the flow of “blood diamonds” that have In a response to the world body’s mining industry, Liberia failed to make a financed armed conflicts in Africa and decision, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf UN ban on diamond trade lifted, accord- elsewhere, and has a membership of 45 on 31 October constituted a joint Task ing to a statement issued on 20 October countries and regions, accounting for Force on Diamond to accelerate the gov- by the Council. almost all the global production of rough ernment’s efforts to join the Kimberley “Members of the Security Council diamonds. scheme. With Lands, Mines and Energy were encouraged by the steps Liberia has The Council specifically urged the Minister Eugene Shannon as chair and taken towards meeting the requirements government to take the necessary reform Special Representative of the Secretary- for the lifting of the measures on dia- measures including the development of General Alan Doss as co-chair, the task monds,” reads the statement by Security stronger management of the gem mining force is charged with ensuring the gov- Council President Kenzo Oshima. But industry and more effective verification ernment takes up necessary measures to the council concluded to retain the ban, and accountability mechanisms. At the meet the requirements for the lifting of noting the findings by the Panel of same time, the Council expressed its wish the UN ban on diamonds. Experts, a UN body to review sanctions, to lift the embargo “as soon as possible so Timber trade, another UN embargo, is that “more needs to be done for Liberia to that revenues from the diamond sector can now free from any restriction as the establish a Certificate of Origin Regime benefit the Liberian people.” It will review Security Council in October decided not for export of Liberian rough diamonds.” the diamonds sanction again in December. to reinstate the ban, which was imposed The certificate of origin regime is a The ban on Liberia’s diamond exports in May 2003 and temporarily lifted in pre-requisite to join the Kimberley was originally imposed in 2001 along with June this year, since Liberia passed the Process, an international certification arms embargo when it was a major source new Forestry Reform Law by the dead- process to verify whether the precious to fuel bloody conflicts in Liberia as well line set by the Council.

oriented management of tree crops such as cocoa and rubber will come as a part of the Jordan Ryan during an assessment visit to a logging company in grant. The project also envisions support- Pleebo ing the creation of micro-enterprises for reforestation and community-driven development projects around the Sapo National Park. FDA Managing Director John Woods said the grant will help the community living on the fringe of the forests receive equitable share from the natural resources. "This project is intended to improve the livelihood of people in the forestry community and reduce the level of poverty.” Paola Agostini, a World Bank senior economist who led the formulation of the project, said it will turn around the forestry sector as a major source of growth and income for Liberia. “The first major step is done with the passage of the law. A next major step now is to implement the law and to make sure all the regulations are in place so that we can really be operational in the forestry sector,” she said.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 9 Once ruled by rebel forces, Liberia’s rubber plantations are back under government control

Got Guthrie Back

By Yuko Maeda occupied by ex-combatants to lay the foun- ants of the defunct LURD, one of the war- dation for future investment. ring factions involved in Liberia’s civil s he approached a curve on “With this repossession, the govern- conflict. In the last three years, hundreds of the road toward the head- ment will restore State authority and rule of former rebels controlled the plantation to quarters of the Guthrie law on the Guthrie Rubber Plantation…to tap and sell illicit latex for millions of dol- Rubber Plantation from one create a peaceful and secure environment, lars and terrorized the plantation communi- of the three entry points, give legal employment opportunities and ty of 36,000 people. August’s repossession AAllan Quee shifted the gear into second establish an interim management team to was a beginning of the long process to and readied himself to encounter ex-com- rehabilitate the plantation,” declared recover the ruined plantation. batants roaming around the overgrowing Agriculture Minister Christian Toe, who The takeover of Guthrie was not an rubber trees. It was an automatic reaction also heads the government-UN joint easy task. Before the repossession, mem- for the consultant who has been visiting the Rubber Plantation Task Force, which is bers of the task force carefully worked out plantation daily for needs assessment. mandated to address multifaceted issues to a repossession strategy. First the Liberian Instead of the violence-hungry youth, what overhaul the rubber industry. National Police assigned 12 police officers caught his eyes was hundreds of smiling Liberia is home to one of the world’s to the plantation to secure the environment, children in a brand-new white and blue largest rubber plantations, Firestone, and UNMIL deployed peacekeepers and UN uniform running toward him. rubber accounts for most of the country’s police officers to backup the national secu- “It was the most amazing moment I’ve export earnings. But without a proper over- rity force, another team of the task force ever had since I started coming here every sight by the government, the rubber indus- prepared various reintegration opportuni- day,” Quee recalls the day the plantation’s try has become a hotbed of economic ties to encourage ex-combatants to aban- only full-grade school reopened in early crimes and human rights violations. don illicit business, and the government October. “I was almost in tears.” Guthrie, the only government-owned identified an interim management team Guthrie signifies a successful joint ini- plantation which stretches out 300,000 from the Rubber Planters Association to tiative the government and the UN took to acres in two north-western counties of put the rubber business back and set up a restore State authority over Liberia’s abun- Bomi and Grand Cape Mount, is the worst support group with relevant institutions. dant natural resources. With the support of case. Opened in 1957, it was long managed Simultaneously, UNMIL engineers con- the UN Mission in Liberia and other UN by Guthrie Rubber Company from structed pre-fabricated offices for them at agencies, the government in mid-August Malaysia from 1981 until 2000, but has the centre of the plantation. took over control of the plantation long recently been occupied by former combat- “This didn’t happen by chance; it was a

10 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 mid-September a majority of the hard-core are not qualified for the formal rehabilita- former rebels to leave the plantation and tion programmes, are scheduled to receive gradually curbed illegal tapping while a six-month training in rubber and agricul- rehabilitation and reintegration component tural skills by the UK-based NGO of the task force conducted a screening Landmine Action. And some are mingling process to verify the eligibility of ex-com- with regular tappers to work under the new batants for the official reintegration pro- management. grammes in formal education and voca- With peace in place, the livelihood of tional training. The interim management people on the plantation is changing, too. team, meanwhile, began restoring the busi- In addition to the full-grade school children ness by putting back a chain of command walk to for as long as two hours from the for operation, hiring, rehiring and training edge of the plantation, 15 other schools for over 1,000 tappers, and brushing the rubber kindergarteners and lower-grade kids are farms and roadsides to start tapping latex. now functioning across the rubber farms. A By late October, the management began health clinic run by the management team centrally collecting rubber crops from has begun its services since late October to employees, which are sold to a private treat outpatients. And a local market of company to process. “Despite some difficulties, we’re thatched huts is now open near the planta- encouraged by the progress made since the tion’s central office. Although the number government took over control of the plan- of stalls is still small, the market presents tation,” Doss commended when he revisit- grocery stores, clothing shops and even a ed Guthrie in mid-October. restaurant-bar. “I already have regular cus- Quee, UNMIL’s consultant, feels the tomers. They stay up to midnight or 1 progress in his bones. When he started reg- o’clock in the morning,” says Haja Jalloh, ular visits to Guthrie in June, he could not the 24-year-old owner of the restaurant-bar result of a lot of hard work,” summarized even drive into the plantation without a who lives outside Guthrie. She grabbed a Alan Doss, the Special Representative of security escort by armed peacekeepers. But business opportunity on the plantation as the Secretary-General. now that the security situation is under soon as security was restored. As the takeover began, there were a control by the peacekeepers and police The rehabilitation of the plantation is group of ex-combatants still chanting “we officers, he can freely move around tap- picking up. Operations Manager Anthony won’t leave,” demanding the payment of pers’ camps to survey the need for social T. Merchant, a veteran retiree from services to improve their livelihood. demobilisation benefits. Armed UN police Firestone, says the management continues “Within a few months, the plantation made officers from Jordan, backed by Namibian to brush the rubber farms to clear the sites, significant progress. It’s amazing,” he says. peacekeepers, kept a watch on the agitated plans to stimulate trees to re-energize and Surely, the shadow of terrifying ex- former rebels. Intensive information cam- trains tappers to respect “rubber culture.” combatants is fading out of the plantation. paigns and tedious dialogues with the ille- Plans are afoot to establish a nursery of Fayiah Bundor, a 37-year-old headman gal occupants and community leaders prior small trees to replant the farms before who supervises a group of tappers, says he to the repossession apparently didn’t work handing the plantation over to a private can now work on his free will. “Since the for some. investor. “We are here to stabilize the situ- new management took over, we have had ation for investors. It will happen in the not Despite a few scuffles, the takeover no problems with ex-combatants. Before, too distant future,” he says. brought hope to many. “This is a dream- we were forced to work, tap rubber for Augustine S. Allie, a long-term former come-true. I’m overjoyed!” screamed them as they wish.” He says former rebels employee and now a production manager Richard M. Konenh, a former worker of who controlled the area forcibly took the plantation, widely smiling to the digni- clothes, shoes and other personal belong- for one of the plantation’s three estates, taries who announced the repossession. In ings from tappers. They also forced them to dreams the return of old days. He remem- a blue jean jacket and a matching cap, the tap latex without any room for negotiation bers the processing factory was running 52-year-old veteran tapper said he returned for the price. “Now we are free.” full-scale, warehouses were full of machin- to Guthrie for the first time since he fled For the reintegration of ex-combatants, ery and, of course, truckloads of rubber the war. “I came back here to see the the screening process has identified 159 filled up weigh stations. “It was full of life. takeover, hoping to get my job back… I demobilised former combatants as eligible People were enjoying their lives,” he want to start working right now!” for the formal programmes and the task smiles. “We can still bring back those days. Since the reclamation, Guthrie has force is assisting them to enter vocational One day we will get that life back.” been slowly but steadily moving ahead. training courses or regular schools. Nearly Guthrie is slowly rediscovering its for- The government managed to convince by 400 other ex-combatants of Guthrie, who mer self.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 11 DEVELOPMENT Rebuilding Infrastructure By Sulaiman Momodu November, many organizations including revive the country’s economy through UNMIL, UN agencies, non-governmental expansion of commerce and trade and con- ook, most of our organizations, and the private sector as tribute to poverty reduction among rural roads are filled with well as civil society organizations are and urban populations. Good roads also potholes,” George cooperating with the Ministry of Public mean reduced travel time, reduced trans- Richards, a resident Works to rebuild the infrastructure as the port costs and reduced cost for goods. of Monrovia, sighs World Bank (WB) takes the lead in fund- The World Bank’s grant prioritizes “Lin frustration. “So we want the govern- ing major road works on the country’s pri- rehabilitation of six rural roadways ment to please fix the roads in the country. mary roads. through the rebuilding of bridges and cul- In addition, we want electricity, we want During his visit to Liberia in July, WB verts, rehabilitation of critical segments of water supply…” President Paul Wolfowitz observed that road surfaces, roadside brushing and Amidst soaring expectations among Liberia needs “everything and everything repairing of drainages, among others. WB the three million-plus war-weary Liberians all at once.” The Bank has provided an is funding projects on six rural roads, with who long to see tangible evidence of emergency grant of US$68 million to sup- UNMIL implementing labour-intensive development, rebuilding Liberia’s ruined port ‘emergency interventions’ in address- work on five of them :Foya - Voinjama, in infrastructure is undoubtedly one of the ing some of the critical infrastructure collaboration with UNHCR, Voinjama - greatest challenges the Government of needs of the country, such as rehabilitating Zorzor, Ganta – Saclepea, Saclepea - President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is current- dilapidated roads, improving the efficien- Tappita and Zwedru – Fishtown. Work on ly contending with. cy of both sea and air ports and restoring the sixth, the Pleebo - Barclayville road, is “We have a lot of work ahead of us to portions of the sewerage, drainage and to be implemented by the Ministry of ensure that Liberia is a stable, safe and solid waste management systems in the prosperous country….we have to work capital, Monrovia, as well as undertaking together because we all have something to community empowerment projects in var- contribute, but also because time is not on ious parts of the country. our side,” Special Representative of the “The Liberian people have been prom- Secretary-General Alan Doss said in ised a lot, now is the time for all to deliv- November at a meeting with the staff of er,” said Paul Kriss, the Infrastructure and UNMIL and UN agencies. Terming it as Basic Services Cluster Leader of the “dry season deliverables,” he said over the World Bank in Liberia. next six to eight months as the weather Whether in Monrovia or in the improves, “we want to help the govern- remotest parts of the country, the cry for ment move forward as fast as it can in a better services and improved facilities is a whole range of areas but particularly in the familiar one, with requests for rehabilita- area of infrastructure.” tion of roads featuring prominently. Since April 2004, the United Nations During the rainy season lasting from April Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has made to October/November of each year, bad emergency repairs or undertaken efforts to road conditions continually become improve the most critical spots on over worse. And with very poor drainage sys- 2,000 km of roads throughout the country. tems, many roads in the capital are prone Notwithstanding this effort, and in view of not only to flooding during heavy down- the fact that infrastructure is capital inten- pours, but some city residents also experi- sive, more needs to be done to improve ence flooding of their homes from time to Liberia’s road network system, which has time. been made worse by years of neglect dur- The hunger for good roads is under- ing the 14-year conflict. standable. Improved road conditions will With the beginning of the dry season in help facilitate humanitarian assistance,

12 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Public Works through local contractors. cial resources. At the same time, principal port, if well equipped, can attract many In addition to the rural projects, WB is parties involved in road works meet fort- international airlines and investors. The rehabilitating two major roads linking nightly in a gathering convened by government has also come forward with Monrovia to Buchanan and to Ganta, a UNMIL-RRR to focus attention on opera- its own contribution to the airport’s revival town near the border with Guinea. “This tional issues and to facilitate cooperation by committing US$200,000 for the reno- work is almost complete in terms of prepa- in support of community driven recovery vation and modification of the existing rations,” Kriss said, pointing out that actu- efforts. passenger terminal. al road works would commence soon. Added to the appalling road condi- In addition to focusing on roads and These emergency interventions are, how- tions, Monrovia’s Freeport, the only func- bridges, UNMIL continues to rehabilitate ever, on critical sections of the roads, tioning port in the country that is the eco- many public buildings through its Quick which are to be asphalted. It is expected nomic life-line for the nation, is in very Impact Project (QIP) mechanism, includ- that rehabilitation of these roads will cre- bad shape partly as a result of the war, but ing schools, health clinics, administrative ate short-term employment opportunities mainly as a result of neglect and bad man- buildings, banks, court houses, police and for hundreds of youths. agement. Much of the food, manufactured fire stations, says Gregory Sanchez, As part of a joint project implementa- goods and fuel are imported into the coun- UNMIL’s Rehabilitation and Recovery tion agreement involving the six above- try through the Freeport, but both the Officer. Other structures rehabilitated or mentioned projects, WB, UNMIL, Public physical infrastructure and cargo handling built through NGOs and local contractors Works and UNDP meet regularly in a facilities require urgent attention, which is using QIP resources include prisons and quadrilateral form of cooperation. UNMIL something that the WB is also looking into jails, markets, shelter for physically dis- supplies heavy construction equipment as so as to ensure that the operation of the abled and wells and sanitation facilities. well as military and civilian technical port is efficient, effective and secure. Among the many organisations assist- expertise and supervision, Public Works Arriving in Liberia by air, a visitor’s ing with the reconstruction of Liberia’s provides added road engineering expertise first impression of the country’s infrastruc- infrastructure are the World Bank, the and knowledge of the terrain, UNDP takes ture is the poorly equipped Roberts European Commission, USAID, UNDP, care of the overall management of finan- International Airport (RIA). The WB, UNMIL, UNHCR, GTZ, ILO, the Swiss cial resources, including procurement of however, has committed US$600,000 for Development Corporation, WFP, the auxiliary construction equipment, tools, the purchase of navigational, aeronautical, Danish Refugee Council, German Agro gear and materials as well as payment of meteorological and security equipment for Action and the Governments of the labourers, and the WB contributes finan- the airport. The capital’s international air- Netherlands and China, among others.

Expanding and rehabilitating the road network is a major task facing the government

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 13 GRASSROOTS County Teams Support Local Authorities By Yuko Maeda Confident and unpretentious, Lofa of rehabilitation. Led by Kortimai, the County’s new Superintendent Galakpai local authorities are now trying to make tall man in a khaki safari Kortimai shares his vision on how his the county bounce back, and the United suit walks to the podium on county administration should be serving a Nations is supporting the efforts. the stage amidst a musical fast growing population of Lofans and Together with UN funds and agencies, chorus by a group of peas- how he’s going to change the way things the UN Mission in Liberia initiated in ant women. A round of work. At this official ceremony to intro- April the creation of a UN County Support spontaneousA applause follows as he warm- duce the new Commissioner for Lofa’s Team (CST) in each of the 15 counties to ly glances at the audience of a hundred capital town of Voinjama, Kortimai grabs assist the local authorities in administering local men and women. The scene is a for- the opportunity to spell out his vision for social services and in designing, coordi- mer courthouse in Voinjama now occupied Lofa County. “We’re all one. We’re all nating and implementing community by UN peacekeepers. together to rebuild our county.” development projects. The initiative is a “Everyone from this Lofa County must The north-western county of Lofa was joint UN response to the government’s have the same life. No one is left out from once the bread-basket for Liberia’s three- policy of decentralization and is aimed at the process to build our clans, to build our million-plus population. Reduced to one aligning the UN assistance framework districts and to build our county,” the man of the poorest counties in Liberia today, with Liberia’s national development agen- grasps the attention of his audience. Lofa has scanty amenities to absorb the da in the four strategic areas of peace and “We’re going to do everything we can to influx of returnees from camps inside and security, governance and rule of law, eco- help district commissioners design what outside the country. Farming, a mainstay nomic revitalization, and basic social serv- needs to be done in their districts. We’re of economy, is just beginning to resume. ices and infrastructure at county levels. encouraging people to raise issues. Bring The deplorable road conditions isolate As part of this strategy, representatives issues to us, bring plans and documents to towns and villages. A majority of health of the UN family in the field work closely us, so that we can try to execute them for clinics remain dysfunctional and schools with the superintendent’s office, line min- you.” and other public buildings are in dire need istries and non-governmental organiza-

A County Support Team meeting in progress

14 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 tions to identify local needs for develop- health services to returnees’ reintegration CST initiative are beginning to see posi- ment and design action plans to fill the to public works, and says that regular tive changes. “This mechanism has raised gaps between the needs and ongoing information exchange through the CST the profile of line ministries at a local recovery activities. The process is also mechanism has enabled the county leader- level. They now take ownership,” says meant to build the capacity of the county ship to identify the gaps in recovery Wouter Van Quickelborne, UNMIL’s civil authorities to administer civil services, efforts. “One of the achievements of CST affairs officer based in Lofa. Chiara formulate county development plans and is to help the county leadership to be Capozio, county coordinator for the UN lobby the central government to take back- informed of UN’s and NGOs’ activities. It Development Programme, says the initia- up measures for the local authorities. gives us an insight into what is going on in tive is critical to empower the county lead- “The CST is an effort to bring the our county and enables us to redirect the ership. “The local authorities are more United Nations together at the county activities to meet our people’s needs.” aware of what people expect from them… level,” says Jordan Ryan, the Deputy For instance, the county administration This mechanism has pushed them to move Special Representative of the Secretary- found an overlapping project on road reha- around to see what’s happening,” she says. General, who leads the initiative. “It bilitation through the CST meetings and Lauranne Leca of the International involves the UN Mission in Liberia and all managed to request a donor plan a repair Medical Corp sees the CST forum critical members of the UN Country Team work- work on another road. The Lofa team also to keep informed of recovery efforts done ing together in support of the restoration of successfully advocated a speedy solution by other development actors. Eric Perry, state authority county by county.” for a late payment issue, in which hun- UNMIL rehabilitation and recovery offi- Every month, each county holds a dreds of ex-combatants in a rehabilitation cer, finds better cooperation among stake- forum called a County holders through CST. He Assessment and Action coordinates a major rehabili- Report meeting where local tation project on the 95-km- representatives of the govern- long Voinjama-Zorzor road ment, UN and NGOs with local representatives of exchange information on the UNMIL’s military engineer- latest status of community ing, the UNDP, the Ministry development issues and of Public Works and the action plans, based on reports Labour Commission. by the four sub-groups along “Voinjama is very vibrant… the national development CST has created a serious framework. Another CST team to go ahead with proj- Core Group consisting of ects.” UNMIL and UN agencies on Although a gargantuan the ground holds a follow-up effort is needed to achieve a meeting to address local Jordan Ryan with team members semblance of basic develop- issues highlighted in the ment in Lofa, the CST initia- forum which should be raised with UN and reintegration programme had not been tive is surely making a significant impact agencies and UNMIL sections in paid their stipends for months. on the ground. It has improved the infor- Monrovia. All the information brought up The local government is now compil- mation flow, coordination and cooperation by county actors is compiled into two ing various data which will form the basis among development actors, increased the monthly reports, which are used at the of development planning. An annual capacity of the local authority to tackle national level to design a more coordinat- report on education in Lofa has been development issues, and raised the partici- ed country-wide action plan to support the developed for the first time in many years. pation of local officers from line min- counties’ recovery efforts. The report tells not only about demograph- istries. Lofa is a leading county in this initia- ic data of schools, from the number of stu- “CST is all about a process,” says tive. The County Administration and the dents by grade and sex and the figures of Monica Andersson, CST Lofa facilitator Lofa UN family are currently building a teachers by qualification, but also the sta- and UNMIL humanitarian coordination new team to develop the county. tus of rehabilitation of school buildings. officer. Through the meetings, monthly “In the past, leaders of the county did- The county is also conducting a property reports and coordination, the local leader- n’t have a mechanism to see what was survey to sort out land tenure after impos- ship is building skills and capacity to run happening in the county or coordinate ing a ban on land sale for six months in the county administration as the UN team development projects,” says Kortimai, sit- response to recent violent land disputes imparts their expertise, she says. ting in his cramped temporary office with associated with returnees and ex-combat- Kortimai understands all those benefits no computer or decent office equipment. ants. A survey of NGOs’ activities is also of the CST initiative. “We must take con- He leafs through hand-written documents underway to map the gaps. trol of our own destiny,” he says. “CST is neatly classified by each subject, from Many county actors engaged in the helping us to achieve that.”

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 15 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The Cost of Conflict

By Sulaiman Momodu table…and one of the strongest indicators Government and its international partners for a protracted stay there,” the report to empower Liberians and advance human iolent conflict is points out. development in the country, stressing that one of the greatest Launching the report at a jam-packed deep-rooted poverty and food insecurity impediments to Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference remained fundamental challenges facing human develop- room in Monrovia on 25 August, President Liberia. ment. It reverses Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf assured Liberians A key message of the report is what it human“V development gains, suppresses that her Government would endeavour to calls “the human development costs” of human rights and needs, and destroys all curb poverty and conflicts, observing that the Liberian conflict. As many as over capacity for human advancement,” says Liberians would not enjoy sustained 270,000 persons are reported to have died the 2006 Liberia National Human development amidst insecurity and law- as a direct result of the conflict or through Development Report (NHDR). lessness. The Liberian leader said that an illnesses exacerbated by the lack of health The report, titled ‘Mobilizing Capacity effective governance system and an facilities destroyed during the conflict. for Reconstruction and Development,’ impressive economic growth were vital The civil war paralyzed the public indicts the prolonged violent conflict in ingredients for peaceful national develop- service, leaving it virtually empty, follow- the country for inflicting major setbacks ment. ing massive flight of qualified staff. on the economy, devastating the society Speaking at the launch of the report, Currently, the public service is not only ill- and rolling back the meagre human and Special Representative of the Secretary- equipped to deliver essential services to development gains that were made during General Alan Doss challenged Liberians to the people, but it is also unable to steer the the pre-war years. “Violent conflict is one elevate their country above poor gover- much-needed reforms. The report points of the surest and fastest routes to the bot- nance, weak institutions, devastated infra- out that rebuilding Liberia and improving tom of human development index structure and poverty. He called on the its human development status requires a

16 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 holistic capacity building agenda targeting measures aimed at fighting corruption in South Africa. Globally, Norway tops the individuals, organizations and the society the public sector. HDR index ranking while Niger, at 177, is at large. The report emphasises the impor- Despite these emerging successes, the at the bottom. tance of reliable data and statistics for pol- immediate problem of capacity weakness- UNDP, in collaboration with Liberian icy interventions and calls for reinstating es and poor morale of the civil service government authorities and stakeholders, national statistical systems that fell victim remains. The experience of the organized a series of activities linked to to the conflict. Government’s 150-Day Action Plan has the publication and launch of the 2006 Liberia is among 18 of the world’s confirmed that the whole of the public Global HDR to highlight the urgency of poorest countries and is worse off today in service is critically short of capacity, action to increase access to water and human development indicators than it was underscoring the need for a properly improved sanitation as an integral part of in 1990, says the report. By the time trained, well motivated and adequately reconstruction and development of Liberia emerged from war in 2003, it was compensated public service cadre. Liberia. This culminated in a formal coun- one of the poorest countries in the world The NHDR makes a strong case for try launch on 15 November followed by a with the majority of Liberians languishing breaking the cycle of violent conflict in post-launch one-day water symposium the in poverty with as many as 76.2 per cent order to build sustainable peace and create following day. living on less than US$1 a day, up from 55 conditions for capacity building for recon- According to a demographic and per cent in 1997. As many as 85 per cent struction and development. In addition, the health survey conducted in 1999, the pro- are unemployed and the country continues 2006 report supports efforts to renew dia- portion of the Liberian population with to be among the most food insecure in the logue on the conditions needed to consoli- access to safe water is about 32 per cent in world with an estimated 35 per cent of the date peace and security and reverse regres- urban areas and 4 per cent in rural areas. population undernourished. sion from the Millennium Development The proportion of people with access to Agriculture accounts for the largest Goals across Liberia. It is the second such sanitation exhibits similar trends. (54%) of the GDP, yet agricultural inputs, report Liberia has produced since 1999 Since UNDP produced the first global such as seeds, and basic implements are and the first since the conflict ended in Human Development Report in 1990, available only through emergency assis- 2003. HDRs have emerged as its flagship publi- tance. Although rice remains the main sta- Due to lack of data that help determine cation and one of UNDP’s most important ple food in Liberia, accounting for 90 per human development indices, Liberia does policy analysis and advocacy tools. When cent of daily dietary intake, virtually all not feature in the 2006 global Human the required indices for Liberia to feature the country’s rice needs (95%) are Development Report (HDR) that was in the global report would be available imports. In the midst of a rich and diverse launched early November in Cape Town, remains anybody’s guess. natural resource base, 235 out of 1,000 babies born today do not live to see their fifth birthday. Incomes are low and have not changed over several decades. A resident physician at a public hospital today reportedly receives LD 4,600 (US$82.14) per month and a teacher with a university degree and teaching certificate is paid at best LD 1,290 (US$22.63). Only one in 10 Liberians has access to any form of health care. An overwhelming majority of women who seek maternal care have no access to doctors and are at the mercy of semi-skilled health workers and traditional birth attendants. The report takes note of capacity building measures initiated by President Johnson-Sirleaf’s government intended to improve the functioning of public sector institutions including the civil service. Some early “wins” in this regard include revising the civil service code, a clean-up of the procurement process, introduction Children are among the worst of internal controls and overhaul of finan- affected by the civil war cial management procedures as well as

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 17 Ex-ffighters Need More Jobs

By Yuko Maeda the most popular occupation among all the claiming to do so often. Group discussions surveyed. “Rural based former combatants with community members also revealed lthough a majority of ex- are engaged in subsistence farming activi- that ex-combatants are often seen engaged combatants feels accepted ties or able to seek temporary employment in community work such as road brushing by the communities they on farm plantations,” the survey points and actively participate in social activities. have resettled in and appre- out, while ex-combatants living in the The survey found ex-combatants have ciates their newly acquired urban setting keep struggling to find a job. nurtured a sense of security in the past skillsA earned through reintegration pro- The survey also found that the comple- three years. Nearly three-fourth of the sur- grammes, they still suffer lack of job tion of reintegration assistance pro- veyed reported feeling safe “to a great opportunities to participate in the coun- grammes in skills training doesn’t increase extent” in their communities and more try’s development, a survey recently con- job opportunities for ex-combatants. More than half of the respondents perceived the ducted by the UN Mission in Liberia than 42 per cent of those who completed level of violence in their communities very found. the training programmes are unemployed, low. About 60 per cent reported that The Ex-combatant Reintegration in eight per cent points higher than those who they’ve never had contact with former Liberia survey, conducted in September never participated in any of demobilisation commanders, and the majority of the focus across the country by the UNMIL and reintegration process. Less than half group discussants stated they don’t see any Rehabilitation, Reintegration and of those who completed rehabilitation pro- evidence or significant element of a mili- Recovery Section, examined how former gramme have a job related to the training tant command structure in place. fighters are coping with the reintegration they received but more than two-thirds of However, in Nimba County, the communi- process, particularly in the economic, ty voiced concern that lack of reintegration social and political aspects of their lives. A opportunities causes some ex-combatants preliminary report on the findings of the to cross the border to join various rebel survey, which interviewed 944 ex-combat- forces in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. ants and their resettlement community On political life, more than half of the members, were released in mid- respondents believed “to a great extent” November. that the current government will move the One in three surveyed had a job, either country’s socio-economic development owning business or being employed and forward. And a vast majority of them, or self-employed, and 15 per cent of the 87 per cent, agreed that their vote could respondents were involved in studies. make a difference in Liberia’s recovery. Only 28 per cent of the surveyed consid- The report recommends that “reinte- ered themselves unemployed, much less them agreed they had learned marketable gration programmes must be linked to than the country’s estimated unemploy- skills. The report says there is “a need to national labour creation and employment ment rate of some 80 per cent. However, address heightened expectations (of the opportunities, particularly in urban cen- an “economically inactive” group, who are benefits of vocational training) and to tres,” and suggests the establishment of a either engaged only in home duties, retired match skills training with employment national mechanism to offer adequate sup- or disabled, accounts for another 26 per opportunities.” port for graduates of the skills training and cent of the respondents. Given the fact that On the social aspect, two-thirds of the to provide business management training two-thirds of those who have a job are surveyed are resettled in their home com- and start-up capital in order to encourage self-employed, most likely engaged in the munities while the rest live elsewhere entrepreneurship. informal sector with petty trade or domes- mainly because of better opportunities In Liberia, the official Rehabilitation tic work, a jobless population of ex-com- there. Only one in 20 respondents and Reintegration programme began in batants in the formal sector seems much answered a fear of returning to their home June 2004 to offer various skills training higher. communities as ex-combatants as the main for more than 101,000 ex-combatants who The unemployment rate among the reason for their resettlement in strange relinquished their weapons during the surveyed differs by geographic setting. communities. Regardless of their resettle- Demobilisation and Disarmament process. Alarmingly, more than 50 per cent of those ment areas, though, a vast majority of the As of 1 September this year, nearly 30,000 who live in the capital of Monrovia and its surveyed, or 93 per cent, believed they are ex-combatants have completed RR train- surrounding areas reported they are unem- well accepted by their communities. ing and another 28,000-plus are currently ployed while less than one in 10 rural ex- Nearly 90 per cent of the ex-combatants enrolled in various training courses. The combatants considered themselves jobless. participate in community activities led by official RR programme is scheduled to end This correlates with a result that farming is non-ex-combatants, with 57 per cent in June 2007.

18 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Threat of Food Insecurity

By J. Wesley Washington the surveyed households to be food inse- are fed and raised, the survey notes. cure, 40 per cent highly vulnerable to food Malnutrition is not only the result of poor ood insecurity in Liberia’s insecurity, 40.9 per cent moderately vul- food consumption, but also of variables rural and semi-urban areas nerable and only 8.6 per cent food secure. such as lack of access to safe drinking remains a major cause of con- “River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Lofa and Grand water, poor sanitary conditions, high dis- cern, according to a recent sur- Kru have the highest proportion of house- ease rates and poor child feeding practices. vey conducted by the holds with poor consumption and dietary The report acknowledges that malnu- GovernmentF in collaboration with the diversity,” the survey notes. trition cannot be eradicated overnight. United Nations, NGOs and donor partners. “In some regions, particularly in the Community health and nutrition pro- The Comprehensive Food Security and north-west, the civil war has caused tem- grammes are needed to tackle chronic Nutrient Survey (CFSNS) conducted porary food shortages. In other areas, par- cases while acute stages require feeding between February and June 2006 random- ticularly in the southeast, food insecurity programmes to address the health of both ly selected 375 rural and semi-urban com- is more chronic, and people are unable to malnourished children and their mothers. munities and assessed 5,409 households. It meet their minimum food requirements The survey also showed that many house- determined the nutritional status of over over a longer period of time,” the survey holds simply do not possess the means to 6,000 children under five and their moth- found. It also highlighted other factors purchase or produce enough nutritious ers and provided the first reliable picture such as road infrastructure, market access, food to meet their daily needs. in many years of the level and causes of health and sanitation, child care and edu- Seventy per cent of those surveyed do food insecurity, vulnerability and malnu- cation as central to the improvement of not have access to clean drinking water trition. The survey also identified liveli- while 80 per cent of households have no hood patterns and agricultural constraints. sanitary facilities. The predominant health The wide-ranging CFSNS report problems are malaria, diarrhoea and respi- released early October at the Monrovia ratory infections. City Hall identified three key problem The survey plays a vital role in filling areas -- low agricultural productivity, lim- the information gap in Liberia, at a time ited buying power, and worrying levels of when it is most needed, said Planning and malnutrition. The survey also highlighted Economic Affairs Minister Toga Gayewea other factors such as road infrastructure, McIntosh at the release of the survey. “The market access, health and sanitation, child report not only reveals the issues of food care and education as central to the insecurity and malnutrition problems, but improvement of Liberia’s post-war food also provides a framework for a coherent security picture. response to the basic needs of the people “The message of this report is clear. of Liberia, thus providing the first reliable Liberia must act now to address the hunger food security. A long term vision is needed picture in many years of the food security of its people. This requires a robust to improve farming know-how at all lev- situation across the country,” he said. response from food aid to rehabilitating els, from land management and pest erad- The CFSNS was largely made possible the agricultural sector,” Deputy Special ication to increased technological inputs by the generous financial support of the Representative of the Secretary-General and crop diversification. Humanitarian Aid Department of the for Recovery and Governance Jordan Caused by chronic malnutrition, European Commission (ECHO) and the Ryan said during the launch of the sur- “stunting,” that robes children of physical United Kingdom’s Department for vey’s findings. and intellectual development, stands at an International Development (DFID). The Years of conflict have severely cur- alarmingly high 39 per cent, the survey survey was carried out by enumerators tailed Liberia’s agricultural productivity, found. Nine counties show rates of over 40 nominated by the Ministries of creating temporary food shortages. Only per cent – ‘critical’ according to World Agriculture, Education, Health and Social half of rural households have access to Health Organization (WHO) standards. A Welfare, Planning and Economic Affairs, land and used it for cultivation in 2005. worrying 6.9 per cent of children under the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo- The key problems of food insecurity, the five suffer from acute malnutrition. In Information services (LISGIS), and the report notes, include low agricultural pro- some counties that rate passes 10 per cent, University of Liberia. Other financial, duction capacities, limited economic considered ‘serious’ by WHO. human resources and logistical support access as well as low biological absorption Acute malnutrition is associated not was provided locally by FAO, HIC, capacities. just with food intake, but also with illness UNICEF, UNMIL, WFP, WHO, CRS, The analysis showed 10.5 per cent of and the manner in which young children GTZ and World Vision.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 19 ON THE CARPET: ALAN DOSS Security, roads, girls’ education, top priority…

Three years after the deployment by the UN of one of the world’s largest peacekeeping missions in Liberia, the Special Representative of the Secretary-GGeneral and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia, Alan Doss, discusses the progress towards peace and stability in the country in an interview with Editor Mathew Elavanalthoduka and stresses the importance of rehabilitating roads and enhancing girls’ education.

Let’s start with the score card of pened with the help of UNMIL and the UNMIL, beginning from the deploy- United Nations. It’s important to look back ment of the mission in 2003. What are at the road travelled. Even though we see the major achievements? many challenges ahead, many problems to be overcome, we should take a measurable The first and most important achieve- degree of satisfaction about what has been ment is peace. If you look back where this achieved to date. country was three years ago and where we are today, that has to be the most signifi- You recently addressed the Security cant achievement. Three years ago this Council on the progress report of the country was still overrun by armed Secretary-General. Do you get the feel- groups. People were not safe and ing from your interaction with the couldn’t move around. Trade was Security Council members that there is totally disrupted and no child could go sufficient international attention to school. focused on Liberia and the UN would not withdraw from Liberia hastily? Three years on we see the difference. I think UNMIL, not working alone obvious- When I was at the Council in ly, has contributed to the return of peace September I received a very strong and and a measure of stability to Liberia. That positive message about the work of the involved a number of successful actions United Nations and UNMIL in Liberia. I and events. Most obviously disarmament, didn’t sense at all within the Council a free and fair elections, and the return and desire to declare victory and leave. The reintegration of hundreds of thousands Council recognizes that there is still a lot of people. to be done and that this country, even These are some of the though is no longer a failed state, will need very positive develop- assistance including security assistance for ments that some time to come. have hap- That’s encouraging but at the same time the Council will expect to see progress. The government’s reform programme has to be pushed ahead. We have to make progress in strengthening the security services and so on. With peace holding and a new demo-

20 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 cratically elected government in place, the accessible and therefore more secure. Obviously the core of our strategy has to expectations of the people are very high. be strengthening of the national security Yet, the reality may be that the reconstruc- The second will be girl’s education. services, particularly the Liberian National tion of the economy could be agonisingly Different field, different impact, but expe- Police, which is the principal instrument slow. Isn’t there a need to carefully man- rience in so many countries shows, partic- for domestic law and order, so that they age people’s expectations? ularly in Africa, that by educating girls, the can take over from us eventually. But we return in terms of social advancement and also recognize that over time security Clearly, in a country where everything economic progress is very marked. If you depends on many factors, not just on hav- fell apart in a violent fashion, it’s not going want to deal with the problem of fertility, ing an effective police and military, how- to be easy to right all those wrongs in a health, nutrition, you name it, putting girls ever important they are. few months or so. So I agree that those into school is an extremely good invest- expectations will have to be managed. We ment for a country. And, of course, it is a We need to help strengthen the justice must understand the realities of a country basic human right. system to ensure the administration of jus- that has lost 90 per cent of its gross domes- tice in a fair and objective manner. In the tic product over a quarter of a century. It’s remote areas we see serious lapses in still going to take a quarter of a century to administration of justice, where trial by get back to where the country was before. It’s important to look back at ordeal is still being carried out. A just society is a safe society. We must work I think people do understand the reali- the road travelled. Even towards that goal bearing in mind that this ty and they don’t ask for a great deal. They though we see many chal- country sadly had a terrible record of want to see some progress in areas of lenges ahead, many prob- human rights abuse. We must support the roads, health and education. They would Truth and Reconciliation Commission and want to see that the administration is lems to be overcome, we build up the National Human Rights working for them and controlling corrup- should take a measurable Commission. tion. They want to get on with their lives degree of satisfaction about and if they feel safe and reasonably secure, More broadly, the Government with its that in itself, goes a long way. what has been achieved to partners have to secure equitable access to date. education, health and basic services for the But these expectations apply equally to people. Infrastructure which will help the the international community. We, as part- economy grow and in turn produce jobs ners, must be realistic as to what can be and economic opportunities, especially for expected in a situation such as this where What was the focus of UN heads of young people, is another high priority. a country is emerging from a quarter of a agencies and peacekeeping missions century of growing instability culminating meeting in Dakar recently? We want to see the basic strengthening in a long and violent conflict that led to a of the security institutions of the state, the huge drop in the national income and the It was mainly an exchange of experi- rule of law institutions, and the economic exodus of qualified people. ences and views on peace operations in and social institutions which will underpin West Africa and to look at the situation in growth and development. We need all What would you say is the one area each of the countries with a significant three elements and different parts of the which we should be focusing on which peacekeeping presence. We also looked at UN are focusing on this. will be the most beneficial to the popu- some of the structural problems in the sub- lation of Liberia today? region, like the issue of youth unemploy- This isn’t all UNMIL’s job. We have ment, arms control and cross-border traf- UN Country Team colleagues and County Allow me two areas. The bedrock must ficking. We had some experts from this Support Teams working very effectively. be security. We must make sure people region and beyond discussing issues of We have joint ventures with other interna- feel safe and secure, otherwise the rest transitional justice. For example, how do tional partners from the region and beyond won’t follow. I take that as a sine qua non. you balance the needs of peace and the like the United States and the European needs of justice? How do you deal with Commission. In fact we’re doing a very Beyond that, I take two things, first, impunity? We had experts and academics interesting project with the World Bank roads. Roads, because it has a tremendous from the region and beyond who have and UNDP on road reconstruction using multiplier effect -- it employs people, been working on these issues. UNMIL military engineers. Above all, we opens up the country, helps farmers get have national partners, the government, their goods to market and the supplies, What is UNMIL’s exit strategy down civil society and the non-governmental seeds, tools and so on that they need to the road? organisations. grow crops. Roads are good for trade and investment. They make the country more It’s not a phrase I use -- exit strategy. Thank you.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 21 Hope for Liberian Green Revolution

By Arthur R. Tucker Agriculture Organisation and the World According to WARDA, an intergovern- Food Programme, initiated to adopt the mental research institution, the popular ome West Africans call it new rice and began a process of replacing NERICA varieties have proven to be high “Rice of Hope,” and others the current poor, low-yielding varieties of yielding, early maturing (75-100 days), name it “I will no longer have rice with NERICA. weed competitive, drought tolerant, resist- to sell my best goat” in a local The NERICA varieties are now plant- ant against Africa’s major pests and dis- tongue. Liberians are yet to ed for multiplication in an area of 11.6 eases, and tolerant to soil acidity and iron nameS the new variety of rice recently hectares at CARI sites in Suakoko, Bong toxicity. NERICA lines have so far been adopted by the country’s Central County. Once the seeds are yielded, they tested in 31 sub-Sahara African countries, Agriculture Research Institute (CARI), but will be multiplied in other five seed multi- and today about 150,000 hectares are experts expect its introduction will lead to plication centres across the country, and under upland NERICA production in a “Green Revolution” in this food-insecure the yield from the centres will be later dis- Africa, including Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, country. tributed to farmers. Nigeria, Togo and Kenya. It is said to have A few varieties of the New Rice for “The rice is getting matured much increased the production of rice by local Africa (NERICA), a hybrid of Asian rice faster than we expected,” says Joseph farmers and brought positive impacts on and African rice developed by the West Qwelibo Subah, CARI Director General their livelihoods. Africa Rice Development Association who heads the NERICA multiplication In Liberia, rice is the staple food of the (WARDA) now known as the Africa Rice project. He predicts the sites will be able to population. People heavily rely on rice Centre, came to Liberia in July. It was a yield an estimated 40.6 tons of seeds. imported from overseas as the country’s response to a call for attention to the issue “This means that a modest application of agricultural sector lay in ruins due to the of rice self-sufficiency by President Ellen fertilizer can increase yields of NERICA long years of civil war. An assessment car- Johnson-Sirleaf early this year. In order to to an average of 3.5 tons per hectare.” ried by FAO and WFP early this year increase the productivity of rice crops and NERICA, originally developed in shows that Liberia needs 278,000 tons of enhance Liberia’s food security, the 1999, has a few hundreds family lines that rice to feed its 3 million-plus population Ministry of Agriculture and its internation- are suitable for both upland and lowland but only 30 per cent of it is locally pro- al partners, including the Food and ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. duced.

22 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Agriculture Minister Chris Toe says it is critical for a food insecure country like Liberia to increase agricultural productivity and domestic food production. “Stimulating agriculture production at the local level is far more cost-effective and sustainable than providing food aid,” he says. For that reason, the adoption of NERICA would mean more than just an increase of rice production and a reduction of imports, he says. “It will mean more food on each household’s table, more money in the farmers’ pockets and hope for future farmers. This will in turn contribute to food security and poverty reduction.” Experts hope the adoption of NERICA will lead to a Liberian Green Revolution, a local version of the agricultural revolution with hybrid plant breeds, fertilisers and improved irrigation that has boosted food production in many countries worldwide. However, FAO Representative Winfred Hammond says a better rice seed alone cannot increase the productivity. He stresses the need to strengthen the capacity of human resources along the rice development continuum. “The capacity of the wide range of stakeholders along the rice commodity chain, including Liberia’s agricultural researchers, extension workers, farmers, sector is yet to pick up processors and marketers, need to be strengthened to improve the rice sector,” he says. “Still we have a long way to go.” Subah says his research institution is management practices for irrigation and income generation. When it happens, they committed to the improvement of agricul- agronomic measures, so as to create a mul- will coin a new local name for Liberian tural technologies as well as capacity- tiplying effect and provide training for NERICA. building of farmers and extension work- farmers and extension workers,” he says. ers. “Scientists at CARI are determined to Liberian farmers are yet to see some The writer is an Information Officer cultivate the NERICA varieties under best improvement in rice production and with FAO Liberia.

USAID Grants US$350,000 for Cassava Initiative esponding to a widespread cassava variant of East African Cassava Mosaic Central Agriculture Research Institute mosaic virus in Liberia, the Virus. Quickly reacting to the spread of (CARI) sites in Bong County. After the RMinistry of Agriculture and the virus, the ministry and the UN agriculture season’s phytosanitary evaluation on plant Food and Agriculture Organisation have agency approached the International diseases and pests, the best will be multi- began an emergency multiplication project Institute for Tropical Agriculture for their plied and distributed countrywide to to distribute improved, resistant varieties resistant varieties of cassava to distribute replace the current poor infected varieties of cassava with a grant of US$350,000 by to Liberian farmers. of cassava. the USAID Mission in Liberia. With the grant secured, Liberia import- The new varieties are expected to safe- In recent years, Liberia’s farms across ed 15 of the IITA top cassava genotypes. guard the future of cassava production in the country have suffered from a new vir- The new cassava varieties are now planted Liberia and improve the availability of ulent strain of mosaic virus, called Uganda in an area of two acres at the Liberian food for rural Liberians.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 23 RULE OF LAW Restoring Confidence in Judiciary

By Yuko Maeda course and unable to locate the sole eye- witness to testify in court, the prosecutor od, you’re not entered a “nulle prosequoi” to drop the sleeping!” Maria case, in hope of reinstating the case later (not her real with better evidence. The judge granted it name), a widow and ordered the release of the accused. with five children, Given the widespread impunity in screamed“G when she heard Serena Liberia’s post-conflict society, Maria had Garlawolu say she would bring the man no hope for a second chance. back to court. Maria had been hurt, disap- Garlawolu came back to her rescue pointed and frustrated since the young within a month. “I’m determined to prose- man in question, who her 11-year-old cute all rape cases pending in this court,” daughter claimed raped her, was released says Garlawolu, Prosecutorial Consultant from jail for lack of evidence in mid- assigned to the Ninth Circuit Court who September. “I felt bad when he was set acts as Assistant County Attorney. She is free. I thought: ‘God will give me judg- one of 12 prosecutorial consultants the UN ment if the judge cannot give it to me.’ Mission in Liberia funds to strengthen the God heard me.” country’s judicial sector, which had been Maria says her daughter was sexually dysfunctional due to long years of political assaulted by the man one day in March turmoil and civil conflict. Garlawolu has when the young girl walked to a nearby been handling seven rape cases in her village to sell smoked fish as she did jurisdiction since she took office in late everyday. The man allegedly grabbed her, July. During the August term, she tried and dragged her into the bush and sodomised won one rape case in which the jury unan- her while threatening to kill her if she imously found a 21-year-old ex-combatant screamed. Shortly after the incident, the guilty and the judge subsequently sen- police found her crying hard in the bush tenced him to 10 years in prison. Her and complaining of severe pain in her determination to reinstate the case of lower body and took her to a clinic for Maria’s daughter increased when she medical attention. The man was arrested learned the man allegedly committed immediately and the girl was referred to a another rape on a 12-year-old boy less social counselling service. The case than two weeks after his release. “I will seemed convincing. definitely get him brought to justice for The trial was set for September at the this case, too.” Garlawolu plans to bring Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, the girl to a better qualified doctor to get 180 km east of the capital city of another medical certificate and track down Monrovia. However, the prosecutor gave the eye witness who is said to be some- up trying the man during the August term where in Monrovia before the next term of court, one of the four 42-working-day begins in mid-November. terms in a year in the judicial calendar, for “Our prosecutorial consultant is very insufficient evidence. With medical evi- active,” commends Judge Yussif D. Kaba, dence ruling out the occurrence of inter- who is assigned to the Ninth Circuit Court

24 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 for the August term. He has a reputation Defenders as defence consultants. for upholding high standards of justice. Garlawolu, a 48-year-old attorney-in- During the term, the court managed to law who graduated from law school in complete the trial of four cases and dis- 2005 after many years of social work, has missed 10 other cases among the 42 cases been performing her job exceptionally in the docket. It is exceptional by Liberian well, people say. Her first trial was a mur- standards as normally one to three cases, if der case, which was transferred from the any, are heard during one term. Kaba Eighth Circuit Court in Nimba. Garlawolu attributes the improvement of case man- more than once travelled to distant Nimba agement to Garlawolu, who compensates to gather evidence by examining the crime for the lack of legal training in her partner scene and interviewing key people County Attorney. “The prosecutorial arm involved in the case. In the rape case of the of the government is very weak because ex-combatant, she successfully convinced most state prosecutors haven’t been the reluctant child victim and her caretak- trained as lawyers. Our consultant is er to come forward to participate in the trained. She has brought lots of progress in prosecution and managed to reveal the the quality of prosecution,” Kaba says. perpetrator’s real age to try him as an adult An acute shortage of qualified profes- by tracking down documents. She won sionals, coupled with the poor judicial both cases. “You had to go extra miles to infrastructure and the lack of resources, prosecute these cases,” lauds Judge Kaba. has severely hindered the functioning of He says Garlawolu has exhibited her tact- Liberia’s judicial sector. Until mid-2006, ful skills in preparing witnesses, collecting Liberia had only six qualified prosecutors evidence and presenting legal argument serving in the entire country while only during the trials. “With her, there’s much nine public defenders aged between 56 improvement in handling criminal cases.” and 81 provided defence for suspects. At Robert Gbarbea, UNMIL’s national the magistrate court level, only three out legal advisor deployed in Gbarnga, sees of over 350 magistrates across the country more impact Garlawolu has brought are qualified to practise law. The backlog about. As she helps a city solicitor to the of cases swells up and corrupt practice Gbarnga City Court review his cases in continues. This has led to mistrust in the addition to hers, the quality of prosecution country’s justice system, spurring a surge has improved. And police officers are also in mob justice and traditional trial by benefiting from her advice in crime inves- ordeal. UNMIL’s most recent report on tigation, evidence collection and the han- human rights in Liberia notes that “the dling of victims, he says. “She’s certainly judicial system continued to fail to uphold strengthened the legal system.” constitutional guarantees.” It is still true that most of the court- In an effort to help build the capacity houses around the country are in a dilapi- of the legal and judicial institutions, dated state, many courts do not even have UNMIL has carried out various judicial a typewriter to keep case records, and reform initiatives. Its Legal and Judicial legal and judicial personnel need more System Support Division has provided training and technical assistance to proper- training to hundreds of legal and judicial ly handle criminal and civil cases. But personnel, from magistrates to court clerks UNMIL’s legal consultant initiative is cer- to law students, and deployed the divi- tainly bringing positive changes in the sion’s legal advisors nation-wide to offer field. consultations on the ground. In June, the “When I first came to Gbarnga, I mission initiated to fund prosecutorial and thought: ‘we’re going to make a differ- defence consultants to be deployed around ence,’” Garlawolu recalls. “As a prosecu- the country. The new initiative is an addi- tor, I have to bring relief for people and tional injection designed to fill the short- help regain people’s confidence in judici- age of trained personnel in order to ensure ary.” fair trial and speedy handling of cases. Liberia needs more of professionals Currently 12 trained Liberian lawyers like Garlawolu to help nurture the rule of Efforts are underway to revamp assist County Attorneys as prosecutorial law and restore people’s confidence in the the judicial system consultants and another 11 help Public justice system.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 25 Networking Women in Governance By Yuko Maeda legislature, and two of the five seats of the share information and ideas. We need to Supreme Court Bench. The current rate of support each other,” she told the audience. echarged with a strong sense female representation in governance is “You have to go back to your constituency of solidarity, more than 200 unprecedented in the traditionally male- and explain what’s happening in the legis- women in public offices dominated West African nation. “They lature,” she said, adding that’s the way to reaffirmed their non-partisan voted for you to make a difference,” the lift up women as a whole. collaboration for Liberia’s President reminded the participants. Responding to the panellists, many developmentR as they exchanged their However, women in public offices are participants voiced concern over the lack thoughts at a high-level women’s forum in yet to use their collective power to make a of communication among women in pub- Monrovia. difference in governance, according to the lic offices and recognised the importance For the first time since they took office panellists who addressed the challenges of building an alliance to collectively deal early this year under the new government, ahead of female leaders. with issues important to women and chil- female legislatures, ministers, directors Joana Foster, Senior Gender Advisor dren. and superintendents across the country of the UN Mission in Liberia, pointed out Some said the female leaders should gathered at the Ministry of Gender and that the women in power should accelerate encourage other women, including farm- Development on 30 September to share the “institutionalization” of female partic- ers and market people, to participate in the their experiences in running offices as a ipation in decision-making by utilising the country’s development efforts, and share woman decision-maker and build a better Convention on the Elimination of all information they have with rural Liberians network to strengthen their collaboration. forms of Discrimination Against Women so that everyone can participate in the Accepting there had been a “disconnect” (CEDAW), an agreement signed by all decision-making process. Others among them and recognising the impor- member states of the UN. It would build a addressed the issue of affirmative action tance of women’s solidarity, they suggest- linkage between the international legal for women to put a minimum quota for ed ways to bridge the communication gap. framework and domestic laws to protect female representatives in government in At the end of the day-long forum “Women women’s interests, she said. place. In the end, the participants agreed to in Governance Making a Difference,” the Commerce Minister Olubanke King- meet once a month to enhance their participants agreed to hold similar gather- Akerele suggested women in public alliance. ings more often to collectively advance offices should refine the quality of leader- “It was a great forum,” smiled Sedia women’s leadership in governance. ship, saying an ideal leader must be able to Massaquoi-Bangoura, Deputy Minister of “The eyes of Africa and the eyes of the provide a vision, develop an action plan, Labour, who managed to collect at least world are on Liberia right now. This is a mobilise resources and empower others to dozens of names and contact information government that is headed by a woman. go with her. “We’ve been blessed by the from participants during the forum. “We The success of this government will open President, who brought all of us with her definitely have to build the network of the doors to women all over the world,” to come along… We have to pass a torch women in governance to collaborate.” reminded their role model President Ellen to the next generation.” The forum was organised by the min- Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first female Kagwiria Mbogori, programme man- istry, in close collaboration with UNIFEM elected head of state, in her keynote ager of the UN Development Fund for and other international partners including address. “My success is your success. My Women, UNIFEM, noted that often times UNMIL’s Office of the Gender Advisor. failure is your failure. This is our time, this women in high level positions end up act- Alan Doss, Special Representative of the is our day.” ing like a man once they take office. “They UN Secretary-General, in his address Last year, in the UN-backed national start going by their patriarchal rules, see- praised the role of women in governance elections, voters elected eight female ing the work in the eyes of men. Let’s not to bring “a different perspective” to devel- Representatives and another five Senators change our gender,” she appealed. “Don’t opment. “It makes economic, social and in addition to the high profile female forget women’s solidarity can make things political sense to put the power of choice President. Since Johnson-Sirleaf came to happen.” in the hands of poor women. Only then can power in January, she has appointed sever- Etweda Cooper, President of Liberia we get significant and quick advances in al dozens women to head public offices at Women Initiative, an umbrella organiza- improving health and education,” he said, both national and local levels. Currently tion for women across the country, promising that the international partners women make up 33 per cent of the provin- addressed the importance of networking stand by them for women’s advancement. cial administrators, 31 per cent of senior and building an alliance of women. “We “We’ll do the most to bring women to the ministerial positions, 14 per cent of the need to communicate with each other, centre stage.”

26 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 END OF EXILE IDP Chapter Ends By Sulaiman Momodu skirts of Monrovia on 27 October on their landowners where the camps are located journey home in a convoy of 20 vehicles. have reportedly requested for the return of fficially, all the 35 internal- While UNHCR trucks carried the IDPs, their land, an issue that the LRRRC is ly displaced persons (IDP) UNMIL trucks carried their luggage. looking into against the background that camps and spontaneous set- At the Sinje transit centre located negotiations for land for IDP camps were tlements in Liberia were between Monrovia and the Sierra Leone either done informally or the camps closed on 20 April this year border, representatives of the LRRRC and sprung up spontaneously. On its part, atO a ceremony held at Salala in Bong NGOs welcomed the IDPs. “You’re wel- UNHCR has commissioned a specialist County, the largest such camp in the coun- come- there is no place like home.” A organization, the Environmental try. But some months after the IDP chapter peacekeeper from UNMIL’s Namibian Foundation for Africa (EFA), to carry out was thought to have been closed with contingent assured them of security. “We critical activities to address environmental 314,095 registered displaced persons are here to protect you -- you have nothing hazards in former IDP camps. EFA has receiving assistance package to return, to fear. Peace is here!” already begun work on sealing open pit hundreds of displaced persons continued At the transit centre, the returnees latrines, wells and garbage pits, and to live in squalid conditions in about 32 of received their return assistance of food and demolishing abandoned shelters and dis- the camps, prompting an assessment sur- non-food items in addition to US$5 trans- posing of household debris that pose a vey by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation portation allowance per person to reach serious health hazard to people and ani- and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), home after they are dropped off near their mals. UN agencies, UNMIL and non-govern- UNHCR and partners will continue mental organizations. supporting the thousands of IDPs who The survey found that some 5,500 dis- have returned through community-based placed persons had stayed back in camps recovery programmes, officially known as around Monrovia and in the counties part- Community Empowerment Projects ly because their names were removed from (CEPs), by providing medical assistance the World Food Programme (WFP) logs and agricultural implements and ensuring during camp consolidation exercise con- that educational facilities are functional. ducted in 2004/05. Some did not show up The IDP return process began on 8 to collect their assistance package during November 2004 through the joint efforts the organized return. Other reasons of the LRRRC, UN agencies and NGOs include the desire of some IDPs to locally following the deployment of UN peace- integrate and the lack of access to basic keepers and the restoration of peace. Three services such as schools and clinics in years on, as the IDP return chapter closes return areas. in 2006 much to the satisfaction of UN The IDP Consultative Forum (ICF), agencies and other humanitarian actors, the body that looks into IDP affairs then home areas. During the repatriation earli- the former IDPs are hoping and praying decided that the remaining IDPs, other- er, returnees were given four months food that never again should they be forced to wise called the residual caseload, should ration supplied by the WFP in two install- run away from their homes. be assisted to return. The ICF also ments. This time around, the returnees Meanwhile, the LRRRC, UNHCR and resolved that assistance to IDPs should be were given their four months' ration in one partners continue to receive and provide distributed upon arrival in their areas of go as an added incentive. assistance to Liberian refugees. As of 20 return and set November this year as the “I feel good to be back home today, I October, 81,298 Liberian refugees had cut-off point for repatriation. am really happy,” 52-year-old Taylor been assisted to return by road, air and sea The repatriation of the residual case- Morris from Perry Camp said cheerfully as mainly from Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra load started on 2 October. Majority of the he arrived at Sinje Transit Camp with his Leone, Ghana and Nigeria. UNHCR’s returnees are heading to Bomi County, wife and three children. His 22-year-old office in Kissidougou, Guinea, closed in according to Henok Ochalla, a field officer son stayed behind as he is going to school September, ending an 18-year presence in with the UN refugee agency UNHCR, but will join the family when school ends. the region following successful repatria- which is taking the lead in the IDP return Revealing that he intends to go back to his tion of 16,000 out of the total 18,000 process in collaboration with the LRRRC farming work, Morris sounded philosoph- Liberian refugees in the region between and other humanitarian actors. ical: “Once there is life and there is peace, March 2005 and September 2006. The Accompanied by UN peacekeepers, there is hope.” repatriation of Liberian refugees is 191 members from 88 families left the out- As the IDPs return, some of the planned to end in June 2007.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 27 SECURITY Women Join Security Services

By Sulaiman Momodu International, a private security company will start their training in January 2007 at contracted by the United States a different location and it will target 500 orothy Jartu Quay, 23, is Government, in charge of the exercise. trainees, 20 per cent of them women. “It is neatly dressed in her Early November, the first batch of 106 too early to say whether we would have Liberia National Police soldiers including 10 women of the Armed problems attaining the overall target of 20 uniform and is very proud Forces of Liberia (AFL) graduated after per cent women in the army,” says Bawn. of it. “It was no mistake for successfully completing a 15-week course The initial number of soldiers to be trained meD to join the police force,” she beams, at a rehabilitated Barclay Training Centre for the AFL is 2,000. sitting behind her desk at the police head- in downtown Monrovia. Immaculately Previously, recruitment into the army quarters in Monrovia. Although some dressed in military combat fatigues, the and police was largely based on connec- members of the public provokingly call men and women of the new AFL proudly tions and political affiliations and not on police personnel “five dollar police” paraded some of their newly-acquired mil- set criteria and competencies. As part of because of a few Liberian dollar tips some members of the “old” police were notorious for collecting from law breakers in order to set them free, Quay said she had never allowed such nicknames to dampen her enthusiasm. “We are very happy to be serving our country after 10 months of training. This is better than staying at home doing nothing for our country,” says Quay’s colleague, Roseline Dweh. Emerging from 14 years of brutal conflict, Liberia is currently engaged in reforming its security sector under the Security Sector Reform (SSR) programme with both the army and the police targeting 20 per cent of women’s recruitment. This is in line with UN Security Council resolu- tion 1325, which calls on all actors when implementing a peace agreement to adopt a gender perspective -- measures that ensure the protection of and respect for the rights of women and girls. As Liberians continue to savour the historic feat of electing Africa’s first female president and thus bringing the struggle for gender equality to the fore, itary skills at the graduation ceremony. the reform agenda, all personnel of the security is of high priority for Liberian “I am extremely satisfied with the per- existing LNP were required to register in women who suffered the most during the formance of the women and I feel very 2004 and to reapply. Over 2,300 of them country’s civil war. “We women have to proud of them,” said Edith Bawn, Public who had either reached the retirement age take the lead to ensure that the peace Affairs Officer of DynCorp International. or did not meet the minimum requirements process stays on course,” says Liberia’s She added that they had a limited number were deactivated, retaining about 900 per- Minister of Gender and Development, of women in the first group of recruits sonnel who were retrained as part of a Varba Gayflor. because they had inadequate accommoda- revamped police force of 3,500 personnel. The police reform and restructuring tion facilities at the current temporary Although the new police currently exercise, under the aegis of the UN Police training centre. boasts of senior female officers at the helm (UNPOL), began in 2004. The restructur- The 106 new graduates began a six- of the force, of the 2,214 who have so far ing of the previously factionalised army week individual advance training in mid- graduated at the end of October this year, began only this year, with DynCorp November. The next group of new recruits only 133 or 6 per cent, are females.

28 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Due to years of war which seriously affected education in the country, getting people including women who meet the First AFL Recruits Graduate basic requirement of a high school graduation to join the army and police has not Graduation of the first class of AFL been easy, says Paul Frimpong, in charge of UNPOL Reform and Restructuring Section. “But that does not mean we have to lower the standard. We have put a programme in place to accelerate women’s education.” UNMIL’s Office of the Gender Advisor works with the recruitment team to bring the gender perspective into the exercise. The office also works with UNMIL’s Public Information and UNPOL

By J. Wesley Washington from the Government to obtain adequate resources to support, sustain and main- ne hundred and six recruits, tain the new personnel of the AFL. “We including 10 females, of the first will support efforts to have these soldiers, Oclass graduated on 4 November and all other soldiers that are to be trained to join active service in the Armed Forces later, to be paid their salaries on time and of Liberia (AFL) after successfully com- in a respectable manner. We shall seek the pleting a 15-week Initial Entry Training financial support of Government in main- Course. Also graduating were recruits of taining the logistical equipment, quarter- the Band Unit of the new armed forces. ing and welfare facilities that are being Discipline and respect for the rule of provided by the U.S. Government for the law were the subject of much of the day’s new armed forces,” he said. ceremony at the Barclay Training Centre United States Ambassador to Liberia in Monrovia as the trainees, neatly Donald Booth cautioned the young grad- dressed in military combat fatigues, uates never to forget that they represent savoured their graduation moment. the best about Liberia and its people. Addressing the graduates, Liberia’s “Your uniform is a solid reminder of pro- Vice President, Joseph Boakai stressed fessionalism, discipline, and responsibili- that the new army should be subordinate ty. But whether a soldier is in uniform or to design gender sensitive messages, slo- to constitutional authorities and should out of uniform, whether a soldier is on gans, flyers and billboards, as well as jin- act within the bounds of the national con- duty or off duty, a soldier’s actions, gles for broadcast on radio to encourage stitution and the rule of law. He urged the words and intentions will ultimately women to join the security sector. new graduates to develop respect for determine how your fellow citizens come To meet the challenge of reaching the human rights through practice and train- to view you and respect the AFL,” he target of 20 per cent female participation ing. noted. in the LNP, the Norwegian government is Defence Minister Brownie J. Over the next three years, DynCorp funding a project that provides interested Samukai said that the Government’s International, a private security company females who have attained 10th grade the objective is to develop a professional mil- contracted by the U.S. Government, will opportunity to qualify for the General itary, “not in numbers, but in quality -- assist with recruiting, vetting, training Educational Development (GED) acceler- well-trained, regimented, disciplined -- and equipping the new army of 2,000 sol- ated course. Participants who successfully with robust tactical and technical capabil- diers including 94 civil servants for the complete the course become eligible to ities.” Samukai promised more efforts Ministry of Defence. commence the police training programme.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 29 military-style weapons so that history does not repeat itself. Beatrice Teah, a subsistence farmer who lives in Freetown, later recalled years of exile in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire where her daughter still goes to school. “With all the trouble there I want her to come home, but we don’t have good schools here,” she says. “River Gee needs development.” Musu Kiazolu, UNDP Small Arms County Coordinator for River Gee, agrees. She says people in Freetown drink the yel- low water from the River Gbeh because there are no sources for clean and safe water. Health facilities are also lacking, and people often walk miles to get proper care in the county’s capital. The stories are similar throughout the Southeast region of Liberia where UNDP has begun the Community Arms Collection for Development component of the National Five-Year Programme for small arms control. Despite the challenges of poor road conditions, the AfD project was launched in six Chiefdoms there in August 2006 -- Twainsiebo and Nyemonweh in Maryland County, Novel Approach to Cherboken and Glarro in River Gee County, and B’hai and Niao-Gborbo in Grand Gedeh County. The project was also launched in the Zota Chiefdom of Arms Collection Bong County. Communities in these Chiefdoms are encouraged to voluntarily surrender arms and ammunition in exchange for development projects from sasas, and the Elders, all men, are seated in By Elma Shaw UNDP. a row with two plates of pink kola nuts and Four Chiefdoms have already selected a cup of yellowish water on the floor in ur people say, their development projects and are now front of them. when strangers breaking ground or making other prepara- The team from the Small Arms Control come to visit, we tions to implement their projects. Programme has a lot to do in Glarro in the must first give On day two, at the official launching next two days, but nothing can be started them kola before ceremony in Glarro Chiefdom, the display “Othey tell us their reason for coming,” says without this traditional ritual. After hand- of cultural traditions to symbolize commit- shakes and introductions we must eat the the young spokesperson for the Elders. He ment to the project continued with the kola nuts, drink the water, and give a small is donning a western suit jacket with a col- presentation of a live rooster and a bowl of token gift of our own as a sign of appreci- orful African print lappa wrapped around freshly harvested rice to River Gee County ation. In return, we will have the full the waist, the formal Grebo fashion for Superintendent Karku Sampson. The cooperation of the Chiefs and the citizens men. Superintendent encouraged the people to of the Chiefdom. Looking at them now, We are in Freetown, part of the Glarro keep up their enthusiasm throughout the smiling and in finery, one would never Chiefdom of River Gee County, to launch Arms for Development process, and, on believe that just three years ago many of the UNDP Arms for Development (AfD) their behalf, turned over to UNMIL the them lost friends and relatives in what is project and are overwhelmed by the elabo- first weapons surrendered by the now known as the “River Gee Massacre.” rate welcome ceremony. We have been Chiefdom. here several times before to prepare the More than 300 people were rounded up community, but this one is a special occa- and killed, and to date, no one has been sion. The artistically painted women who brought to justice for the crime. Behind The writer is a Communications the smiles today is a determination to rid danced and sang for us as we approached Officer with UNDP Liberia. the palaver hut are now seated with their their communities and their county of all

30 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Patrolling the Borders In the wake of as yet unsubstantiated media reports in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia of merce- nary training on the border, the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the two neighbouring countries have started joint patrols in an effort to prevent any recruitment of mer- cenaries or arms trafficking, and to reinforce security along their common borders. UNMIL FOCUS joined a patrol team in Nimba County, which shares border with Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea.

By Sulaiman Momodu Peace remains the most cherished Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor shed some light desire in the volatile West African sub- on the exercise named “Operation Logo” rom the sleepy Liberian border region notorious for its porous borders. on the border with Sierra Leone and town of Loguatu in Nimba While Liberia and Sierra Leone enjoy rela- “Operation Mayo” on the Ivorian border. County, where in 1989 the civil tive peace, the stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire “We patrol on our side of the border and conflict that would engulf the continues. At the same time, there is an air meet at identified crossing points to whole country for the next 14 of political uncertainty and despair hanging exchange information,” he said. “While we yearsF first began, the patrol team travels over Guinea. Although Liberians at the bor- are doing the western borders, we had along a narrow path through thick bush and der say the Ivorian rebels have not created troops doing the eastern borders concur- forest. A few kilometres later, the team any disturbances, a sense of uneasiness rently.” The border patrols also include air comes to the end of the road, facing the with their presence could be clearly seen on reconnaissance. peacefully flowing Cavalla river, the natu- their faces. Lt.-Gen. Obiakor points out that there ral boundary between Côte are lots of unsubstantiated stories d'Ivoire and Liberia. Across the in local newspapers on camps river one can see men armed with either in Côte d'Ivoire or in Nimba Kalashnikovs in battle ready where rebel recruits are training. positions. The men are fighters of “But we have found nothing of that the Ivorian rebel outfit Forces nature.” Nouvelles (New Forces), who The UNMIL military boss have been controlling the north of stresses that although no rebel that country for about four years training camps or recruitment were running. discovered, the patrols will not be Although UNMIL’s patrol relaxed. “Immigration, customs does not cross over to the Ivorian and the Liberia National Police are side, and in the absence of a UN Peacekeepers all involved in this patrol so it bridge, some peacekeepers of the patrol the border becomes part and parcel of what United Nations Mission in Côte they should be doing eventually.” d’Ivoire, ONUCI, cross the river Some Liberian residents in the on rafters from the Ivorian side to meet During patrols in vehicles and border area with Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra their counterparts in Liberia. The peace- armoured tanks through the jungle in terri- Leone say they are very much appreciative keepers compare notes. No incident on ble road conditions or on foot, the peace- of the border patrols. “With the border either side -- all calm and quiet. keepers clearly identify all crossing points patrols, we are sure to go about our daily With the restoration of peace to Liberia and gather information on terrain and road activities in peace and to sleep in peace,” and its neighbour Sierra Leone thanks to conditions. Troops deployed on both sides John Johnson, a resident of Loguatu, UN peacekeepers, there are genuine fears know each other and the local residents are remarks. that any deterioration of security in the reassured of their security. The peacekeep- Meanwhile, a regional Force neighbouring countries could have direct or ers also obtain maps of the border area as Commanders’ Conference in late indirect impact on the gains the UN has well as information on rebel movements. November in Monrovia reviewed the bor- made. The war-weary locals of Loguatu Addressing the press at UNMIL head- der patrols and decided to launch summarize it with screaming graffiti on quarters in Monrovia mid-October, Operation Seskin, along the border with their walls: “No more war, we want peace!” UNMIL Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Guinea at the end of the month.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 31 Quick Impact Projects

By J. Wesley Washington In Sinyea, Bong County, a town with Kakata and Gbarnga Central Prisons have over 6,500 inhabitants, getting safe drink- received facelifts through UNMIL QIPs. he United Nations Mission in ing water is a nightmare. Local inhabi- At the Kakata Central Prison, outside Liberia (UNMIL) through its tants rely on water from the adjourning Kakata, Margibi County, Corrections Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) creeks or the open un-chlorinated wells in Officers were quite overwhelmed with the funds community-oriented, the vicinity. However, five new hand refurbished and renovated facility. small scale but highly visible pumps nearing completion around the Correctional Desk Officer Amos Tinfrastructure projects aimed at helping town through QIPs will soon provide the Sarnoh couldn’t hide his delight. “To be Liberia recover from its prolonged war residents with clean drinking water. frank, I’m very much grateful to QIPs and improve the living standards of the The major focus of QIPs now is on because when we took over this place, the people. rehabilitation and refurbishing of court- prison was not suitable. There was a lack From the initial projects of garbage houses, police stations, and prison com- of toilet facilities, inmates received very and metal scrap collection and removal pounds aimed at enhancing rule of law little ventilation and sunlight during the from the streets of Monrovia and its envi- and good governance. As part of this, the day, the fence was very low, and there rons in October 2003 to the rehabili- were no exercise facilities,” he said. tation of roads and educational facili- Though with only 51 inmates, ties, UNMIL has continued to support Sarnoh says the facilities are now up the Government’s efforts to realize its to standard. “Our static security is in programmes of recovery and recon- place: fence is higher secured with struction. barbed wire, the entrances have steel Overall, a total of 282 such proj- gates, there is much more ventilation ects totalling US$4 million have been for inmates and most importantly, an undertaken over the last three years. exercise venue and water facilities Of these, 215 projects have been are all included,” he said. There are completed, while 67 are ongoing. now four withholding cells with spe- Since QIPs began, education sec- cific cells for juvenile and females at tor has benefited from the highest the premises. number, 38 per cent, of such projects. Liberia’s civil servants who are Among the other sectors benefiting based outside the capital were forced from the projects are rule of law, water Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, the to travel to Monrovia at the end of every and sanitation, road rehabilitation, health, only law school in the country, has been month to collect and cash their salary economic activity and shelter. given a massive facelift. checks due to the absence of banking In far away Buanplay, Nimba County, A number of magisterial and judicial facilities in the counties. However, they some 300 kilometres from Monrovia, courthouses have been renovated and don’t have to go through that stress and UNMIL, through a local contractor, is refurbished in Greenville, Tubmanburg, strain any longer. constructing a 13-classroom junior high Kakata, Bensonville, Careysburg, and Constructed and refurbished through school building to replace two dilapidated Gbarnga. Similar renovation projects are UNMIL QIPs, the Central Bank of Liberia mud brick structures serving as the educa- underway in Buchanan, Zwedru, Harper, now has payment centres in Tubmanburg, tional facility for some 500 students in the Bopulu, Cestos City, Ganta and Voinjama and Zwedru, which will also town and the surrounding areas. This is Sanniquellie. serve the neighbouring counties. The pay- just one of the 109 projects aimed at reha- Alfred Y.K. Manigbolor, Stipendiary ment centres will also enable customs and bilitating the education sector. Magistrate, Gbarnga City Court is ecstat- revenue agents to deposit funds and avoid “I’m so overjoyed,” says Thomas ic about the renovation of his court by the need for frequent travel to the bank’s Karngbury, Town Chief of Buanplay, as UNMIL. “The renovation of this building Monrovia headquarters. Discussions are he thanks UNMIL for the assistance has made a great impact. People did not being finalized for the construction of accorded the township through the QIPs. have interest in the judicial system three more centres in Sinoe, Maryland and “Our children will be able to learn in an because this place was looking run-down. Grand Kru counties. atmosphere conducive for learning. You But since UNMIL QIPs came in and ren- Of all the Quick Impact Projects, 40 have brought great relief to us and our ovated the building, it has given a good per cent were implemented in children in this community and the adja- impression to the public.” Montserrado County, followed by Nimba, cent villages.” Other institutions like the Monrovia, Bomi, Margibi and other counties.

32 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Fighting Lassa Fever

s the deadly, haemorrhagic agement, referrals, infection control and and skills development in the affected disease, Lassa Fever, con- injection safety; hospital-based surveil- counties. In addition, 60 nurses and nurs- tinues to claim lives in lance through improved laboratory servic- ing students from Phebe Hospital were Liberia, the World Health es and rapid diagnosis; community mobi- sensitized on aspects of case definitions, Organisation (WHO) and lization through provision of sanitation clinical presentation and standard precau- theA Ministry of Health (MOH) are imple- tools, surveillance and response to out- tions. All the trained health workers were menting an Emergency Lassa Fever breaks; and community sensitization provided with guidelines and field refer- Prevention and Control Programme through information, education and com- ence materials for use in their health facil- specifically for the endemic counties of munication. ities. It is envisaged that these tools will Bong, Lofa and Nimba. The project is co- As part of the programme, skills of the equip the health workers in the investiga- funded by the European Commission mostly untrained or semi-skilled health tion of Lassa Fever related rumours or out- Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and WHO. workers in rural areas get a boost, enabling breaks, surveillance, clinical diagnosis of The ongoing programme, which would them diagnose Lassa Fever clinically, suspected cases, specimen handling, be eventually expanded to cover the entire report and refer suspected cases to Phebe observation of standard precautions, country, is expected to contribute to the Hospital, the only facility in the country reporting, and management. reduction of morbidity and WHO has provided personal mortality caused by Lassa protective equipment to strength- Fever by strengthening the en the capacity of the isolation capacities of health workers ward in Phebe Hospital, in addi- and communities. tion to Biochemistry The WHO Representative Spectrometer for blood analysis in Liberia, Dr. Eugene A. and the drug, Ribavirin, for treat- Nyarko, said from January ment of the disease. Community 2005 to October 2006, about awareness and community clean- 12 cases of Lassa Fever were up campaigns have started in all confirmed with three recorded the three counties with the sup- deaths, among them two port of local community leaders. Pakistani UN peacekeepers. WHO has provided sanitation Most of the confirmed cases tools consisting of wheelbar- were reported from the three rows, shovels, rakes, cutlasses, endemic counties, but Gbarpolu, Grand for management of the disease, which was hoes, diggers and sanitation gloves to 60 Bassa, Maryland and Montserrado coun- looted and all equipment destroyed during communities from 20 districts in the three ties also reported the disease. the war, but has now been rehabilitated. identified counties. Laboratory tests to confirm whether First reported in Zorzor hospital, Lofa Lassa Fever is endemic in Guinea, one is suffering from Lassa Fever are usu- county in 1970, Lassa Fever has been one Liberia, Sierra Leone and regions of ally sent by courier to Hamburg in of the public health problems in Liberia Nigeria where it was first discovered in a Germany. It usually takes a week for the with consequent impact on the socio-eco- village called Lassa. Lassa infection in results to be known. Nyarko acknowl- nomic and livelihood of the Liberian peo- rodents persists and the virus is shed edged that sending samples abroad is a ple. Studies conducted in 1984 suggest throughout the life of the animal. Disease problem but said plans are afoot to have a high transmission of the disease in the transmission is primarily through direct or laboratory in West Africa capable of country with varying incidences of indirect contact with the waste of infected detecting the disease. The surge in Lassa between 14-17 per cent in the endemic rodents deposited on surfaces such as Fever cases in Liberia has led to a new co- counties. In the coastal areas the inci- floors or beds or in food or water. Person- ordination mechanism among principal dences vary between 3.8-4.3 per cent. The to-person spread may occur during the stakeholders: MOH, the Country Health proportion of death from the disease has acute phase of fever when the virus is Teams, UNMIL, WHO, Phebe Hospital been high, especially in pregnant women. present in the throat. The virus may be and the communities. WHO has trained 162 health workers excreted in the urine of patients for three In the ongoing prevention and control from the three endemic counties on Lassa to nine weeks from the onset of the dis- that started in November 2005, the main Fever prevention and control. Twelve ease. Lassa virus can also be transmitted strategies include improvement of patient county health team members were trained via semen for up to three months. All age care through clinical diagnosis, case man- as trainers to facilitate information sharing groups are susceptible to the disease.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 33 PEACEKEEPERS From China, With Love By Alexactus Kaure The shot peace-keeper was rushed to Grand Gedeh communities has been com- the Hospital in a critical condition. The mendable. The Hospital has been helping he road from the Chinese cap- doctors carried out a quick but successful in providing health services to the citizens ital of Beijing to Liberia’s cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. After in collaboration with the government- south-eastern city of Zwedru three hours of surgery, the patient’s bleed- owned Martha Tubman Memorial (MTM) is long. But for the 12 doctors ing was under control, heart-rate stabilized Hospital in Zwedru in many different and 16 other Chinese medical and all the vital signs back to normal. ways,” said Dr Oluyinka Aderibigbe of Tpersonnel from the Beijing Army General Sweating and exhausted, the Chinese doc- MTM Hospital. This help has included the Hospital, Zwedru is their second home. tors and nurses had pulled the patient back provision of X-ray facilities, laboratory They are part of the Chinese Level II from death. When the good news was tests and TB medication. Hospital in Zwedru. announced, people waiting outside the “The people of Grand-Gedeh County are grateful to the Chinese people for the The Hospital provides high quality Hospital cheered and applauded to show level of work they have carried out,” says medical support to mostly UNMIL Sector their gratitude to the doctors. Ophelia Gledy, Zwedru City Mayoress IV staff but sometimes extends free med- “The contribution of the Chinese med- recalling two cases -- one involving a little ical service to critical patients in the local ical personnel in Zwedru is not only well boy who had third-degree burns on most community who cannot be treated at the acknowledged by UNMIL but also by the parts of his body and needed some inten- local hospital. Besides the highly trained entire Liberian people,” Brigadier Birhanu sive treatment, and a pregnant young girl and professional staff, the Chinese Level II Jula, the Ethiopian Commander for Sector who was transferred from the MTM IV, commented recently. Up to now, the Hospital also boasts of state-of-the-art Hospital with vaginal bleeding. Chinese Level II Hospital has received medical equipment. Its laboratory has Despite not having a gynaecologist, been praised by Madam Bendu Tulg, nearly 20,000 out-patients and in-patients the Hospital had no choice but to admit the Liberia’s Assistant Minister of Health, as of UNMIL staff alone. patient. After several hours of surgery, the best in the South-eastern region of Since its establishment, the Hospital during which several phone calls were Liberia. has undertaken various humanitarian made to China for expert advice, the baby Saving the life of an Ethiopian peace- activities as part of the effort to help was successfully delivered and the mother keeper, who shot himself accidentally in rebuild Liberia, including free medical was out of danger. the chest early this July, was a significant assistance to the local people and health “The tremendous service the Chinese achievement for Lt.-Col. Sun Tiansheng, promotion programmes using mobile clin- medical personnel are rendering is indis- Commander of the Hospital, and his team. ics. pensable in addressing the health needs of This won the hearts of fellow peacekeep- “The contribution of the Chinese Level our people in that area,” says Joseph ers in Zwedru, mostly from Ethiopia. II Hospital in the provision of health to Boakai, Vice President of Liberia.

Chinese medical personnel at work

34 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 Chinese Keep Roads Open

By Alexactus Kaure the Zwedru-Tappeta, Zwedru-Greenville, from Monrovia is the major constrain. It Zwedru-Webo Highways and the Toe again boils down to transport. efore the arrival of UNMIL, Town road to the border with Côte The Chinese Engineering Company the Albert T. White Stadium d’Ivoire. Put together these stretches of has so far built two heliports at Greenville in Zwedru was in a state of roads represent over 500 km. And the Airport, repaired the Zwedru Airfield, total neglect and disrepair. Company’s area of operation, Sector IV, is built four steel bridges, rehabilitated two But almost three years later, not just the largest of the four sectors, but roads and built a truck-port in Zwedru, theB renovated Stadium can be mistaken for it is also the only sector that doesn’t have among other tasks. On the social front, the a spanking military training academy. It is a portion of tarred road. Company has levelled the ground for an now home to the Chinese Engineering The Commander says the Company is elementary school in Toe Town and Company. here to maintain roads and not to build repaired the wall of a badly damaged The Company’s story begins here in them -- a crucial distinction. Asked which mosque in Zwedru. The Company also Zwedru. It is a story of making movement of the roads he is most proud of, he quick- rescued 80 stranded vehicles both UNMIL possible, of roads and their regular mainte- ly picks out Zwedru-Tappeta and Toe and private, and has lifted 81 containers. nance. The Company has 275 personnel Town’s. In fact, there is a permanent In addition to over 320 km of roads ranging from commanding officers and detachment of the Company stationed on repaired, the Chinese engineers have also sergeants, engineers and technicians, oper- the Zwedru-FishTown road and another on fixed 66 seriously damaged road sections. ators, drivers and mechanics. the Zwedru-Tappeta. The trouble spots on And they have won kudos for their work. The statistics can be staggering. The the road are immediately taken care of The Special Representative of the Company has 431 equipments, divided without having to drive from Zwedru Secretary-General, Alan Doss, praised the into seven groups, 14 engineering every day. For the first time in many years, engineers for their hard work when he machines, 16 tractors, 58 containers, nine the Zwedru-Tappeta road has been in good opened the Sarbo Bridge in River Gee generators and three sets of water treat- condition even during the rainy season, built by the Company. Recognizing that ment plants, says the Commander of the says the Commander. the bridge had been built in just one week, Company, Lt.-Col. Li Chutang. However, the task is not easy. The he said that this achievement demonstrates The Chinese Engineering Company Zwedru-Greenville road has proved to be a not only the contingent’s technical abilities has a daunting task as it is responsible for nightmare, says the Commander. Lack of but also their dedication to their job as three major road arteries. It takes care of timely delivery of construction materials peacekeepers.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 35 NEWS BRIEFS Grants for Liberian Legislature

By Sulaiman Momodu Liberia and the Legislature. ruption,” he said. Speaking at the signing ceremony held The Speaker of the House of embers of the Liberian at the United Nations Mission in Liberia Representatives, Edwin Snowe, lauded the Legislature had every (UNMIL) Headquarters in Monrovia, efforts of the United Nations for bringing reason to smile on attended by senior members of the peace and sustaining it by empowering the Thursday, 12 October, Liberian senate and legislature, Special Liberian people. “These grants demon- as they received two Representative of the Secretary-General strate that peacekeeping is not only about grantsM from the United Nations Alan Doss said the project is one of the ensuring security or silencing the guns but Democracy Fund (UNDEF) totaling near- very first approved by UNDF which came also about sustaining peace. By empower- ly half a million US dollars. out of a major reform effort by the outgo- ing our young Liberians, the UN is not The two grants include the Legislative ing Secretary General, Kofi Annan. He only setting the pace for lasting peace but Study Grant Programme of US$120,000, said the Legislative Study Grant also ensuring that we can all live together which is to last for two years and is intend- Programme is important because it meets and develop our nation as one people.” ed to strengthen the professionalism of the two needs: “first to strengthen the capaci- The President Pro Tempore, Isaac legislature and encourage the participation ty of the Legislature …and a strong Nyenabo, expressed gratitude to the of youth in the democratic process, and Legislature means a strong Government… United Nations for the grants. ‘We believe the project, “Building a National Integrity and second, bringing young people into that capacity-building is the essence of Framework for Liberia,” amounting the political arena.” national development…we believe that US$360,000, to be implemented by the The Deputy Special Representative of this process of fomenting the strength of Governance Reform Commission (GRC). the Secretary-General for Recovery and the committees by bringing in young The latter seeks to promote transparency, Governance, Jordan Ryan, said Liberia professionals to assist in note taking, accountability and the rule of law, with a should be proud to be one of the few coun- research work, etc. will help to improve view to eliminating or substantially mini- tries to receive two grants from the new our society.” mizing corruption. Democracy Fund. “Democracy requires UNDEF was established at the 2005 The study grant programme will pro- that all of the public be outraged when World Summit at the UN in New York and vide scholarships for some students at the there are examples of corruption but all of is funded through contributions of University of Liberia. This will be imple- the public have the ability to be engaged in Member States for the promotion of mented through UNDP, the University of processes that put a check on issues of cor- democracy and human rights.

36 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 NEWS BRIEFS Japan Assists Liberian Children he Government of Japan in Japanese embassy in Ghana. “This gener- Minister of Planning and Economic mid-November contributed ous contribution from the people of Japan Affairs, Toga Gayewea McIntosh and US$1.6 million to the United will support UNICEF’s interventions to Deputy Minister and Chief Medical Nations Children’s Fund, sustain immunization coverage of Officer at the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, to help reduce Liberian children less than one-year of age Social Welfare, Bernice T. Dahn, also par- TLiberia’s high under-five mortality rate. at 85 per cent, distribute 147,840 bed nets ticipated in the Exchange of Notes cere- The 2006 National Human Development in Lofa, Grand Gedeh, and Maryland mony in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. Report stated that 235 out of 1,000 babies counties and supply 780,000 doses of ACT Dahn lauded the Japanese government for born today in Liberia do not live to see treatment,” Chorleton explained. the donation and pointed out that malaria their fifth birthday. For his part, Nakamura noted that the is Africa’s leading cause of under-five The donation will support mortality and is the biggest life-saving child immunization killer of children in Liberia. coverage and provide more than With support from 147,000 insecticide treated bed UNICEF, the Government of nets to protect infants and preg- Japan and other partners, nant women from malaria. The measles coverage has increased grant will also be used to pro- to 94 per cent from 42 per cent vide 780,000 doses of in 2004 and DPT3 (diphtheria, Artesunate and Amodiaquine pertussis, and tetanus) coverage (ACT), used to treat children is up at 87 per cent in 2005 who contract malaria, Africa’s from 31 per cent in 2004. leading cause of under-five mor- Liberia is on track to be certi- tality, according to a UNICEF fied polio free as no cases have press release. been reported for three-years. “We are profoundly grateful to the new funding for UNICEF Liberia is part of Since 2002, the Government of Japan Government of Japan for their continued his Government’s continued trust in has provided UNICEF Liberia with more commitment to assist Liberia’s vulnerable UNICEF’s capacity to deliver results than US$14.24 million to support the rein- children,” said UNICEF Liberia towards the achievements of the tegration of demobilized Liberian children Representative Rozanne Chorlton, while Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) formerly associated with the fighting participating in a press conference with 4 and 5, which focus on child mortality forces and the prevention of infectious dis- Yutaka Nakamura, Charge d'Affaires at the and maternal health. eases. Judiciary Must Be Strengthened : UN Expert

harlotte Abaka, the UN on Human Rights (INCHR) have still not the Guthrie rubber plantation and Independent Expert on the been appointed more than three years after improvement of the human rights situation Promotion and Protection of the body was included in Liberia’s peace in several of the larger plantations. Human Rights in Liberia, deal. She commended the Government for has said that the country’s Abaka urged the Independent Panel of its adoption in January of the Act amend- judiciaryC must be strengthened to protect Experts appointed 10 months ago to pre- ing the Penal Law in relation to the defini- against rape and other crimes. pare the shortlist of candidates, and the tion and penalties for rape. “However, I Warning that rape remains “one of the Government and Chief Justice to take all am saddened to learn that there has been as greatest challenges” to human rights as she necessary steps to ensure that competent yet little noticeable impact on the preva- concluded her 11-day visit to Liberia in and credible Commissioners are appointed lence of rape in Liberia, including rape of November, the expert decried the lack of without further delay. very young children.” progress with the nation’s Truth and However, Abaka noted that “signifi- The UN Mission in Liberia is current- Reconciliation Commission and its human cant” human rights progress has been ly supporting the Government in the rights body. The TRC is not yet operating made in Liberia since the conflict ended, strengthening of the judiciary through fully despite starting its public activities among them several positive steps such as training and infrastructural development five months ago, while the Commissioners the recent developments in the education such as the construction or rehabilitation of the Independent National Commission sector, the reassertion of State control over of court houses.

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 37 LLIIBBEERRIIAANNSS WWhhaatt mmuusstt bbee ddoonnee ttoo ssppee

“One of the ways to speed up Liberia’s recovery process is that the government must be in the position to provide job opportunities so that Liberians can get back to work. Right now it’s time for nation building. The standard of living in the country is generally low. Many people live from hand-to-mouth. They need to be gainfully employed. So “Liberia needs continued interna- to speed up Liberia’s recovery, tional assistance. It needs all of the Government must create jobs for partners it can work with. We need those without jobs and should also to constructively engage the United reconcile the people. ” Nations and other bilateral and Prince Collins (Talking Drum Studio) multilateral organizations on how they can help because it’s clear that Liberia needs all of the partnership “We need to work together as for its reconstruction. Liberians. We need to open schools Liberians need to cooperate and and institutions of higher learning in collaborate. Opposition parties need the country. The human capacity of to be brought on board. We think the country is very weak. Government people from diverse backgrounds should build more vocational institu- need to be brought on board as a tions and encourage idle youths to way of contributing to the peace take advantage so they can help to and progress of the country.” rebuild this country. Also, to speed up Isaac Yeah (Journalist) development in the country, we need electricity, water, health care, etc. ” Clinton Nagbe (Student, Stella Maris Polytechnic)

“Nobody wants to do business in a place where security is fragile. The most urgent thing to be done is to consolidate the peace in order to attract investors. Those who might want to invest here will want to make “The major thing that government sure that their investment will have should do is to create job opportuni- some security. And one way to do this ties that will empower the youth to is that all Liberians should be security make meaningful living. Once every- officers. By this I mean, if you see body is busy, crime would be drasti- something that is a threat to security, cally minimized. Secondly, some of don’t say it is not my business. Those the programmes initiated by the gov- who commit crimes are people who ernment should be suspended for live with us in the community so we now. The right-sizing and down-siz- should be prepared to bring their ing exercise should be suspended. clandestine activities to the attention Likewise, the current demolition exer- of the authorities and speed up the cise should be suspended.” country’s recovery process.” William A. Brown (Businessman) James Davis (Businessman)

38 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2006 SS SSPPEEAAKK eeeedd uupp LLiibbeerriiaa''ss rreeccoovveerryy??

“In my view, Liberia’s development depends on ourselves -- together we have to make this nation peaceful and prosperous. When one travels, you see how developed other countries are, and when you come to your country, you see small villages which we call cities. Secondly, government should create job opportunities so as to lessen the hardship on the Liberian “To speed up the country’s recovery, people. we need to rehabilitate our road net- ” work throughout the country. Once Elisa W. Dahn (Employee, Government of Liberia) our main trunk roads are rehabilitated everything will speed up in the country. The lack of adequate roads and bridges in Monrovia is causing us problems. With the collapse of the Vai Town Bridge in Monrovia, these days there is immense traffic on the “The government needs to reconstruct Johnson Street/Bushrod Island route the roads, provide free education, which causes delays for people com- especially to those who cannot afford ing to and from work daily.” it. Government also has to improve on the security in this country. These James M. Bowah (Businessman) are very vital to the country’s recovery. Government should ensure that refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their home areas. The demolition of shacks is untimely. How can you demolish the place where one gets his or her daily bread without any alternative place to relocate? ” “Liberia needs all the assistance Antoinette Wolo (Student, University of Liberia) from all its partners. Liberia needs to remain engaged constructively and actively with the international community. Our government will have to continuously demonstrate “I would like to say that Government that it is indeed prepared to work and its international partners assist in with its international partners.. bringing electricity, safe drinking water When you talk about the education- as well as create jobs for the jobless al, health, infrastructural develop- Liberians. They should spread to other ment, everything hinges on the parts of the country creating an roads -- tackle the roads and every- enabling environment for peace, thing will fall in place. Also the gov- security and economic empowerment ernment must remain resolute in its for all Liberians.” drive to clear this country of corrupt practices.” Esther Chea (Businesswoman) Eva Flomo (Journalist)

September - November 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 39 UNMIL FOCUS, Vol. 3, No. 01 A publication of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Public Information Office www.unmil.org